HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — The Black River Public School team, representing the State of Michigan, will compete in the We the People national finals, which takes place “virtually” on April 25 and 26.
We the People is a nationwide civics competition run by the Center for Civic Education. Students present speeches on constitutional issues and are then scored on their ability to answer follow-up questions from expert judges. The students aren’t allowed to use notes to answer the questions.
In its third year of competition, the team qualified for the nationals by climbed its way to the top, by winning its first state championship on, Jan. 10, in a state wide competition in Lansing. The Black River team, comprised of 10 students, including: Piper Kendall (11th), Elijah LaBurn (11th), Jonathan Lowry (11th), Sierra Lynch (11th), Ariana Newbery (11th), Nathan Overweg (12th), Dylan Pennington (12th), Sia Rajgarhia (11th), Parker Seymour (11th) and Aanya Usmani (11th).
The team is coached by Peter A. Letzmann, a Grand Rapids attorney, who is assisted by Luke Ruiter a Hope College student and Black River graduate who was on the team last year.
“The team has endured many challenges this year, after winning the state championship, the school was closed, our group practices were ended, the trip to Washington D.C. for the actual competition was cancelled, they had to switch to a virtual format for the practices, the national organization changed the format several time, and now they will have to compete from their individual dinning room tables,” said Letzmann.
Letzmann also said, “During the difficulties facing the school and family life caused by the Coronavirus, we have had tremendous support, from the school, the parents and friends of the student competitors, and even City Hall.”
