Centennial's 'People' moving on

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Centennial High student Deanna Arner enjoyed the answer she gave to judges and so did her interested teammates (from left) David Barclay, Trishia Dean and Lindsey Yero.

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Arvin High Principal Blanca Cavazos (back) and volunteer Larry Hallum helped prepare Unit 6 teammates (from left) Jazmin Robles, Cindy Lopez, Raul Perez and Ranae Fox.


Centennial High School has its sites set on Sacramento where it will represent Kern County at the California "We the People — The Citizen and the Constitution" congressional hearings competition from Feb. 6-8. Centennial earned the right by defeating Arvin High in the region four championships held Dec. 4 at California State University, Bakersfield.

Centennial and Arvin emerged from a field of 13 Kern County high schools to be crowned congressional district winners. Teams competed in either the 22nd or 20th Congressional Districts with Centennial winning the 22nd District trophy and emerging as the overall champion based on total team score. Arvin was the 20th Congressional District winner.

Arvin's loss to Centennial does not necessarily mean it is out of a chance to compete in the state championships. There are 10 regional representatives. In past years, as many as two regions have not sent representatives leaving wild card openings for teams with the best statewide scores among runner-ups. Last year, regional runner-up Centennial received a wild card selection.

The event is unique because the schools never compete face-to-face. Each team individually presents testimony in six mock congressional hearings. Congressional committees, made up of community scholars and civic leaders, pose one of three study questions to the students prior to the competition. Each team is allowed four minutes to present testimony. Then, for an additional six minutes, teams answer questions posed by judges involving constitutional issues raised by events in history. The totals of all six team units combined determines the winner.

Approximately 300 students participated in the competition giving testimony in mock congressional hearings on questions relating to their study of the U.S. Constitution. Competing high schools were: Centennial, East, Foothill, Golden Valley, Highland, Liberty, South and West high schools from the 22nd Congressional District, and from the 20th Congressional District: Arvin, Cesar Chavez, Delano, Ridgeview and Shafter high schools.

Although listed as a competition, "We the People..." is icing on a very big cake from which participants will be able to take large bites of useful knowledge the rest of their lives. They will now be able to focus on the broader Constitutional meaning of issues in life. As an example, Golden Valley's Unit 3 team was asked some tough Constitutional questions from the judges. Student Jake Pledger responded by saying it was not the federal government's responsibility to provide retirement benefits for everyone and that individuals should do their part by saving.

Teammate Richard Diaz felt individuals who do not pay income taxes and receive money for services rendered in untraceable cash should not be entitled to government services, while pointing out no one, regardless of status, can be denied service in an emergency room.

Students learned more about considering both sides of an issue from the judges' critiques. On the Constitutional rights of illegal aliens, one judge pointed out that those who argue for punishing illegal aliens should also consider what treatment might be reserved for those who lure them into the country to work illegally.

During breaks in the competition, many students expressed their feelings about the benefits of competing.

Ridgeview High student Michelle Witham said, "It (We the People...) tests my skills, allowing me to show how much I have learned about laws and the Constitution."

Cesar Chavez High student Cesar Casillas came out of the day's last session smiling. This was Chavez's first year in the competition, and the first time Casillas had ever taken part in any academic competition.

"I was the captain, and I told our team going in, be confident — you know what we can do, let's go do it," said Casillas. "It went almost as planned. We were connected. When one teammate would finish, another was waiting to add his take, and then another, without missing a beat. It felt good knowing you were impressing the judges. I hope to comeback next year to help the students who follow us prepare."

"We the People..." Results

Overall Finalists
20th Congressional District — First Place — Arvin High
20th Congressional District — Second Place — Ridgeview High
20th Congressional District — Third Place — Delano High

22nd Congressional District — First Place — Centennial High
22nd Congressional District — Second Place — Liberty High
22nd Congressional District — Third Place — East High

Hearing #1
20th Congressional District — First Place — Arvin High
20th Congressional District — Second Place — Ridgeview High
20th Congressional District — Third Place — Delano High

22nd Congressional District —  First Place — Centennial High
22nd Congressional District — Second Place — Liberty High
22nd Congressional District — Third Place — Foothill High

Hearing #2
20th Congressional District — First Place — Arvin High
20th Congressional District — Second Place — Shafter High
20th Congressional District — Third Place — Ridgeview High

22nd Congressional District — First Place — East High
22nd Congressional District — Second Place — Liberty High
22nd Congressional District — Third Place — Centennial High

Hearing #3
20th Congressional District — First Place — Arvin High
20th Congressional District — Second Place — Ridgeview High
20th Congressional District — Third Place — Delano High

22nd Congressional District — First Place — Centennial High
22nd Congressional District — Second Place — Foothill High
22nd Congressional District — Third Place — Liberty High

Hearing #4
20th Congressional District — First Place — Arvin High
20th Congressional District — Second Place — DelanoHigh
20th Congressional District — Third Place — Ridgeview High

22nd Congressional District — First Place — Centennial High
22nd Congressional District — Second Place — Foothill High
22nd Congressional District — Third Place — Liberty High

Hearing #5
20th Congressional District — First Place — Arvin High
20th Congressional District — Second Place — Cesar Chavez High
20th Congressional District — Third Place — Ridgeview High

22nd Congressional District — First Place — Liberty High
22nd Congressional District — Second Place — Centennial High
22nd Congressional District — Third Place — East High

Hearing #6
20th Congressional District — First Place — Arvin High
20th Congressional District — Second Place — Delano High
20th Congressional District — Third Place — Cesar Chavez High

22nd Congressional District — First Place — Centennial High
22nd Congressional District — Second Place — East High
22nd Congressional District — Third Place — Foothill High

Ryan Coleman is the Centennial teacher/coach. Student team members are: Deanna Arner, David Arvizu, David Barclay, Chelsea Bedke, Hilary Clarke, Trishia Dean, Kathleen Dooley, Nora Goscinski, Christina Hall, Matt Lee, Meaghan Lingo, Ashlyn Little, Jacob Loeffler, Jasmine Lowe, Taylor Page, Brianna Renfrow, Myra Ronquillo, Chris Sanchez, Rachel Tiner, Turquoise Trotter, Joseph Trujillo, Eliza VanMeter, Elizabeth Yates, Lindsey Yero and Tyler Yero.

Robert Ruckman is Arvin High's Teacher/Coach. Student team members are: Elizabeth Acosta, Jose Andrade, Ranae Fox, Maria Gallardo, Octavio Galvan, Estephani Garcia, Kristi Grigsby, Aurora Hernandez, Erika Hernandez, Joshua Kidwell, Cindy Lopez, Jesrgina Lopez, Maria Lopez, Shera Mabanta, Azucena Martinez, Inez Martinez, Stephanie Martinez, Kathryn McCoy, Yesica Pantoja, Raul Perez, Faye Dean Ramos, Juan Rivera, Jazmin Robles, Margarita Rodriguez, Maria Rojas, Esteban Smith and Daisy Zuniga.

The Center for Civic Education in Calabasas, California, originated and administers the national competition. Locally, it is coordinated by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and made possible by a grant from Chevron. Other sponsors and supporters include CSUB, Congressmen Kevin McCarthy and Jim Costa and United States Department of Education.


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