Both the Reno High School Huskies and Incline High School Highlanders have much to celebrate as they each garnered awards at the first "We the People" National Finals Challenge held April 25-26, 2020, via Zoom. Overall, thirty schools from 25 states competed in this first-ever all online national competition.

Only Nevada and four other states sent "wild card" teams. In Nevada, Incline High School was the wild card team having earned second place at the state competition in February. Nevada and Oregon were the only states to have teams win in multiple categories.

Incline Highlanders (teacher Milton Hyams) won the Unit 3 award. Unit awards are given to the teams whose unit scores are the highest among all competing schools (except for the top three schools).

Reno High School Huskies (teacher Richard Clark) won the Division "D" award. Divison awards are given to the team with the highest cumulative score among the units in a particular division.

Traditionally, the "We the People" National Finals occur annually at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia. This year, though, the COVID-19 pandemic made gathering the teams impossible. Canceling the National Finals was devastating to students and teachers. Nearly all schools had been studying the "We the People" curriculum since the start of this school year, winning both district and state competitions. Those wins qualified them for nationals. Both of Nevada's teams were made up of graduating seniors.

Could competition be done online? 

The Center for Civic Education, who conducts the national competition, pressed its internal staff to consider how to execute a seemingly impossible technological feat of virtual competition. More importantly, would the schools be willing to participate in an online experience? Resounding Yeses answered both questions.

"Some students saw this as a way to 'salvage' their senior year, since there was no prom or graduation, at least there was "We the People."

Additionally, students had been preparing their responses since February and deserved an opportunity to show their hard work.

Both teachers, Richard Clark and Milton Hyams were on board with the modifications needed to meet this challenge. Both teams spent hours in virtual rooms practicing with coaches to hone their presentation skills in this different format. The result was inspired.

"Zooming all over the place." 

On April 25 -26, the Center held the first National Finals challenge.

In total:

• 30 schools, 

• 33 teachers, 

• 645 students, 

• 36 judges, along with 12 facilitators, 

• to conduct 180 hearings.

And it worked!

"Once all the technical connections worked, it felt like a regular hearing," said Trey Delap, one of six volunteer judges for Unit 2.

What of the Future, Necessity and Emergency Prompts Innovation. 

The Nevada Center for Civic Engagement (NvCCE) is taking a hard look at the results of this weekend's virtual challenge and forming a "Project Team" to take on the task of adapting the format for use in Nevada.

For a long time, Nevada's rural and frontier schools have had trouble traveling for competitions and teacher training. This new format could be the answer for states with similar issues, and that's why Trey Delap, Executive Director, appointed the project team.

"Based on the success of this event, I see great potential for this tool to potentially put "We the People" in every classroom with an internet connection. Additionally, the potential for professional development is promising." said Trey Delap

NvCCE has invested resources into the development of a virtual platform as a tool to expand all its civic programs. Including the capacity to conduct official competitions, the platform could be used to hold more frequent middle school and elementary virtual hearings. Additionally, the opportunity to extend teacher training including scholar lectures, teacher institutes, all may be done using the platform.

In these trying times…the heart of the framers is shown. 

It is unknowable exactly how the world will act after the pandemic ends. But, these students showed incredible resiliency, perseverance, and courage to participate in this massive experiment. Moreover, the National Finals Challenge proved that nothing can stop the need for direct civic engagement if this form of government is to endure. In fact, in times of great trial it is more important that citizens engage.

During the awards announcement, Bob Lemming, "We the People" national director, cited Thomas Paine's "The American Crisis," published in 1776.

"These are the times that try men’s soul: The Summer Soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” - Thomas Paine, 1776

In other words, citizenship is not just a fair-weather engagement. It is during these existential events when the tenents of the Constitution are most needed. During the National Finals Challenge, the history of this republic is analyzed from every conceivable viewpoint, and urgency and crisis are when active citizenship is most important.

Now and for the future.

This past weekend proved that nothing except apathy could keep this republic down. Nevadas phenomenal young people distinguished themselves above their peers as leaders worthy of national attention. Based on their success, Nevada is demonstrating how a state can thrive through pandemics.

It is the mission of the NvCCE to promote, facilitate, engage, and continue to encourage educational programs and experiences connecting people to their government. They cannot do this alone; it takes the engagement of the community. Please share your contact information with them so you can be part of engaging each generation into citizenship.

More information:

The announcement of awards occurred at 5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST, Monday, April 27, 2020. The announcements may be viewed at the Centers Facebook page here:

Center for Civic Education Facebook

More information and videos of the hearings will be posted in the coming days at:

Center for Civic Education YouTube

National Finals Challenge 2020 Page

These resources will be UPDATED as changes occur….stay tuned.