The Governor’s School Foundation is proud to cover much of the cost of participation in the We The People National Championship competition every year. For many years, the competition was free for all qualifying teams, but congressional budget cuts mean that it now costs teams tens of thousands of dollars to attend. In the 2016-17 fiscal year, the Foundation provided an initial enhancement grant of $20,000 to the We The People team and worked with Sam Ulmschneider (’02) to raise the additional $11,000 needed.
We’re additionally proud to say that the Maggie Walker team took home the National Championship title this year. Participating in We The People has been one of the most meaningful experiences for students year after year, and we know that the 2017 will never forget how hard they worked for this victory.
Mara Guyer (’17) had this to say about her experience:
“In a school and senior year filled with incredible programs, We the People has been the most formative experience of my life. Four years of Maggie Walker classes taught me to read and synthesize research, but We the People taught me to formulate my own views carefully and defend them under pressure. On Unit Two, my unitmates and I pored over the lives of the founding generation, studying their personal notes and stories alongside their philosophical and political literature. During rounds, our opinions would need to withstand every counter-argument; we spent weeks anticipating questions and independently seeking out answers. The knowledge I accumulated, the friendships I developed, and the confidence I found within myself are now invaluable parts of my Maggie Walker experience. Every student in my class carried with them in August a curiosity and passion for the material, and left D.C. in April a National champion, having addressed judges with consideration and poise. The pride I feel in the team’s achievements is overwhelming. My belief that the program has made me a fundamentally better student and citizen is firm. Thanks to the We the People program–as well as the tireless work of our amazing coach, my classmates, and the school community–I am graduating this spring with a stronger understanding of constitutional structures, the founders’ petty interpersonal problems, and, importantly, my own ability to contribute.”
Your support of the annual fund makes the Foundation’s support of the We The People teams possible. Donate here today.