High school students across the county tested their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution to earn the top spot during the We the People Congressional Hearings.
Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) hosted the annual competition at Golden Valley High School on Saturday, December 2, where more than 150 students demonstrated their understanding of constitutional principles through simulated congressional hearings.
Teams have been working hard for months preparing to compete in either the 20th or 22nd Congressional District. According to KCSOS, each team individually presented testimony in two rounds of six mock congressional hearings. Congressional committees, consisting of community scholars and civic leaders, posed one of three study questions to the students before the competition. Each team was allowed four minutes to present testimony. For an additional six minutes, teams answered questions posed by judges involving constitutional issues raised by his historical events. The combined total of six team units determined the winner.
Centennial High School was named the overall regional winner, advancing to represent Kern County at the state competition early next year. The team has won the region 22 times, including 12 out of 13 years. Centennial has won four state titles in 1998, 1999, 2002, and 2003. Arvin High School is awaiting word if they will advance to state on a wild card invite.
Overall Results
20th Congressional District
1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Liberty High School
22nd Congressional District
1st — Arvin High School
2nd — Golden Valley High School
3rd — West High School
Overall Regional Scoring
1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Arvin High School
3rd — Liberty High School
4th — Golden Valley High School
Unit Results
20th Congressional District
Unit 1
1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Liberty High School
Unit 2
1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Liberty High School
Unit 3
1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Liberty High School
Unit 4
1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Liberty High School
Unit 5
1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Liberty High School
Unit 6
1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Liberty High School
22nd Congressional District
Unit 1
1st — Arvin High School
2nd — Ridgeview High School
3rd — West High School
Unit 2
1st — Arvin High School
2nd — West High School
3rd — Ridgeview High School
Unit 3
1st — Arvin High School
2nd — Golden Valley High School
3rd — Ridgeview High School
Unit 4
1st — Arvin High School
2nd — West High School
3rd — Golden Valley High School
Unit 5
1st — Arvin High School
2nd — West High School
3rd — Golden Valley High School
Unit 6
1st — Arvin High School
2nd — Golden Valley High School
3rd — Ridgeview High School