4 November 2014
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Supreme Court of Missouri’s Committee on Civic Education has announced the four teams advancing to the statewide finals of The Constitution Project competition, scheduled for Wednesday, November 12 in Jefferson City.
“All of these winners gave outstanding performances in their chosen fields of crime scene investigation, journalism and trial advocacy,” said Supreme Court of Missouri Judge Patricia Breckenridge, chair of the civic education committee. “They also demonstrated an exceptional understanding of and faithfulness to the Constitution. We are so proud of them, and we look forward to seeing first-hand their progress at the statewide finals next week.”
Three teams are the winners of the regional team competitions held last month:
- From Region 1, Logan-Rogersville High School in Rogersville advances. Other schools competing in this region were Houston High School in Houston; Nixa High School in Houston and West Plains High School in Houston.
- From Region 2, Cardinal Ritter Preparatory High School in St. Louis advances. Other schools competing in this region were Dixon High School in Dixon, St. James High School in St. James and Washington High School in Washington.
- In Region 3, School of the Osage in Lake Ozark advances. Other schools competing in this region were Camdenton High School in Camdenton, Father Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia and Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City.
The fourth team advancing to the state finals is an “all-star team” comprised of the top students in each of the three disciplines from the regional competition whose schools did not advance to the team finals.
Comprising the journalism all-star team are:
- Alley Beamer of Nixa;
- Sammy Garrett of Houston;
- Clayton Hall of West Plains;
- Ryan Pollock of Helias; and
- Kate Schisler of St. James.
Comprising the crime scene investigation all-star team are:
- Danielle Ballard of Camdenton;
- Chase Freidel of Father Tolton;
- Leanna Hickey of St. James;
- John Shattuck of Dixon; and
- Carrie Snee of Washington.
And comprising the trial advocacy all-star team are:
- Darcy Becker of Washington;
- Caleb Gill of West Plains;
- Casey Glaude of Father Tolton;
- Olivia Woosley of Houston; and
- Barrett Young of Nixa.
At the statewide finals, both team and individual winners will be selected in each of the three disciplines. Individual award winners will receive $1,000 scholarships from sponsoring organizations. In addition, one outstanding student from each field from each school competing this year will be declared a Constitution Fellow. Constitution Fellows in journalism will spend a day at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism; fellows in crime scene investigation will spend a day at the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crime lab in Jefferson City; and fellows in trial advocacy will spend a day at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.
Now in its second year statewide, the Constitution Project is an intensive, hands-on competition that engages students in investigating a mock crime scene, reporting about the crime and processing the resulting case as it progresses through the system, culminating in a mock trial – all under the mentorship of local professionals in the fields of crime scene investigation, journalism and trial advocacy. In addition to the civic education committee, statewide cosponsors of the project or its fellowships include the Missouri Broadcasters Association, Missouri Police Chiefs Association, Missouri Press Association, Missouri Sheriffs Association, Missouri State Highway Patrol, The Missouri Bar, the University of Central Missouri and University of Missouri-Columbia.
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