Lauren Meininger remembers last year when some of her senior friends on Grant High School’s Constitution Team lost to Lincoln at the state championship. They had worked extremely hard only to have their experience stop short in January.
Even when the team later received an offer to be a wild card – a slot in the national competition offered randomly to teams that did not win state – the students turned it down because they wouldn’t have enough time to prepare.
Because of that “people really wanted to win this year,” says Meininger.
Senior James Knudsen’s friend was also on the team last year. “He told me it was the best experience of his senior year,” Knudsen recalls. “I thought it would be definitely a good experience if he could lose and still say that.”
This year, 34 Grant seniors set out to reverse last year’s results. After beating Lincoln at the state competition in January, Grant’s team went on to claim the national title in April in Washington, D.C.
Winning, member Emily Olson says, was the “best feeling in the entire world.”
It’s been about five weeks since all the celebrations, and Grant’s national champions have had time to reflect on the deeper benefits they will take away from the program. For many, including Knudsen, Con Team helped them grow their public speaking skills. In competition, students are required to answer questions on command in addition to giving rehearsed opening statements.
Con Team also provides a place to form friendships with like-minded people and participate in a scholarly experience. Kathleen Kohl says she found it “intellectually engaging on a ton of levels, but it’s also just been really, really great to be in a group of people who are just as motivated as I am.”
Whether or not they go to law school or have a career in the justice system, these 34 seniors will graduate as more informed and active citizens.
For Meininger, Con Team shed light on the many flaws present in our system of government, inspiring her to possibly pursue a career in government. She’ll study at Clark University in Massachusetts in the fall.
Kohl, who will attend Harvey Mudd College in California next year, says that Con Team helped her achieve something greater than an understanding of politics that will help her in future careers: being able to work effectively in groups.
This year’s Con Team has certainly left a legacy at Grant. “Any championship that happens in high school (is) good for the school, and it builds good spirit and builds community pride,” says Grant Principal Vivian Orlen.
Certainly, the bar has been raised for future Con Team members. Orlen has talked to some juniors in the hallway and she says they are intimidated by the workload and expectations awaiting them. But they are also inspired.
Unit 6 Coach Shelley Larkins says she hopes Con Team members strive to be active citizens and stay up on current events. “They can’t let their cynicism and their understanding of the flaws of the government keep them from participating, so I hope they become active citizens, and are empowered to stay active for the rest of their lives,” she says.
Whatever path they choose, Con Team will most certainly be a highlight of their senior years in terms of academia, friendship and accomplishment. Says Knudsen, who will be going to Oregon State University: “I’ll certainly remember it for a long, long time.” ♦
