Students prepare for 'We the People' contest

Glacier High School will try to defend its title in knowledge of the U.S. Constitution later this month at the state “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” competition in Helena.

The competition, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, tests students on their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and the country’s political system. Students must present prepared answers to questions and sit through cross-examination by judges.

Glacier High won last year’s state competition and competed at the national “We the People” contest in Washington, D.C.

This year the 23 seniors in Richard Hildner’s Advanced Placement government class will defend the school’s title against more than 100 students from six other schools.

“It’s actually a ‘We the People’ class,” Hildner said. “After last year’s success, the school said, we can make this a class on its own, and that will be the lead-in for second semester AP government.”

This year’s team includes Mackenzie Bayne, Molly Benedetto, Ariel Berg, Ayries Blanck, Kyle Brady, Kayla Byle, Abigail Connolly, Spencer Davis, Shelby Deaton, Juan-Pablo Gevaudan, Nicole Gilbert, Coleen Hoag, Marguerite Jung, Zach Matteson, Danyelle Moore, Kelly Olhausen, John Patrick, Benjamin Robertson, Kyle Schmauch, Mary Snipstead, Brianna Walling, Logan Warberg, Tessa Weyrauch and Montana Ziglar.

They will compete against teams from Anaconda, Great Falls, Laurel, Polson and Seeley-Swan high schools at the state Capitol Feb. 22. The winner will vie for the national title in Washington, D.C., April 24 through 26.