A class of outstanding students from Clay County High School won first place honors at the We The People State Competition at the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse in Charleston on December 15, 2015. The twelve students in the AP Government and Politics class, taught by Philip Dobbins, will represent West Virginia in the National Competition, along with representatives from the other 49 states and the District of Columbia in Washington, DC, in April, 2016.
The We The People program has been in existence for more than a quarter century and focuses on having high school students possess greater civic knowledge and attitudes through learning about constitutional principles and good citizenship. This culminating activity was in the form of a mock Congressional hearing.
This is the second year in a row that Clay County High School has been the statewide winner. Rebecca Tinder, the State Coordinator for We The People and an attorney with Bowles Rice LLP, commended the students for their outstanding performance and the teaching leadership of Mr. Dobbins. She also praised the beneficial assistance that had been provided by Circuit Court Judge Jack Alsop and Clay attorney Mike Asbury, who assisted in judging the District event and gave guidance and advice to the students as they prepared for the state competition.
The students were presented their awards from U.S. District Court Judge Thomas E. Johnston in the Ceremonial Courtroom at the Federal Courthouse with the Judge making comments to them regarding the importance of being good citizens. At the opening ceremony, Fred Joseph, 2nd Congressional District Director for U. S. Congressman Alex Mooney, gave remarks on behalf of the Congressman.
