Arcadia High School’s Constitution Team Finishes Ninth at the National Finals
By AUSD Digital Communications Intern Vania Ahmadi
Constitution Team Exploring Washington D.C., and the U.S. Capitol Building
(Photo Courtesy of Ariel Lew & Jenny Liao)
ARCADIA– After almost a decade, Arcadia High’s Constitution Team is back in the national spotlight at the We The People National Finals, placing ninth out of 48 teams overall. However, the path to the team’s success wasn’t always a straight one.
Upon finishing second at the California State Finals, the team did not have a guaranteed spot at the national competition, despite doing an excellent job at states. Regardless, Arcadia High’s Constitution Team remained focused, dedicated, and optimistic that they would hopefully land a wildcard—and they did.
The We The People National Finals is a high school competition sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, which aims to promote responsible citizens who are actively engaged in democracy. In the competition, students from across the country showcase their knowledge and understanding of the United States Constitution and American government, and how the fundamental principles of the Constitution have and will influence our legal system. The three-day competition consists of the first two days being held at the National Convention Center in Virginia, where teams faced two preliminary rounds, and the third day being held at the National Union Building in Washington D.C., where the top 10 teams compete.
With 27 members who are all seniors, Arcadia High’s team is divided into six units, each with around four to five students. Each of the six units focuses on a particular area. In preparation for the National Finals, Arcadia High team members learn about government and study the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Each of the six unit groups prepares four-minute opening statements in response to three congressional hearing questions. Following this, judges who come from backgrounds such as law or have experiences as attorneys ask students follow-up questions in a six-minute questioning period in order to understand students’ level of communication skills and critical thinking.
Constitution Team Taking a Group Photo Upon Placing Ninth Nationally
(Photo Courtesy of Ariel Lew & Jenny Liao)
“While each unit had their own unique methods of preparation, the whole team put in countless hours and huge amounts of effort into being competition-ready,” claimed Unit 1 member Lizzie Gladson-Pang. “Whether it was researching historical context, case law, and modern connections independently, or working with different units for free-response practice, our performance at nationals was the culmination of hundreds of hours put in by the whole team.”
Starting in the summer of 2024, Constitution Team members met online to prepare for the upcoming season and, most importantly, to bond. Members researched outside of class about court cases and other pieces of information to deepen their knowledge and develop a base that could be used for both their written responses and during free response. The team also ran mock competitions and met with their units and coaches each week to prepare.
Constitution Team Taking a Break After a Long Day
(Photo Courtesy of Ariel Lew & Jenny Liao)
To add on, an aspect that truly stands out in the entire process is how each unit is assigned to different coaches— individuals who have given their time to mentor Arcadia High students.
“Aside from Ms. Leahy's help, we also had the support of Mr. Kevin Fox,” stated Ellie Gladson-Pang, a Unit 2 member. “His guidance doesn't just come from his experience teaching AP Government, but also years as the coach of Constitution Team; he truly is the most knowledgeable coach we could have ever asked for and put in every effort to prepare the four of us for every level of competition.”
“But it isn't just with the goal of placing well—the way Mr. Fox helps us understand all the moving parts of American governance that has put us on track to be better citizens, and even better people,” added Gladson-Pang, grateful for everything Fox has done for their unit.
When asked about his favorite take away from coaching Constitution Team, Fox expands on how the experience keeps him having faith in young people and that it’s rewarding to see people who care—hoping each and everyone goes on to make a great positive difference in the world.
The Team Taking in a View of the Washington Monument
(Photo Courtesy of Ariel Lew & Jenny Liao)
All in all, through all the late-night study sessions, endless hours of research, and bus rides to competitions, Nathan Chang explains how, while the team started out unfamiliar with each other, they have all grown to be tight-knit and lifelong friends.
Unit 4 Smiling for a Group Photo
(Photo Courtesy of Ariel Lew & Jenny Liao)
Yet Constitution Team not only provided a space for new friendships to form—it also opened the gateway for many members to become more interested in politics and the government.
“Before this team, I avoided the subject of politics and didn't know much about how our government works,” expands Alessandra Ikeda, a member of Unit 3. “Now, I'm having debates with family and friends about politics, and it’s because of this knowledge that I'm now advocating for change instead of staying silent. We need more educated citizens, because once you realize the power of a vote, you'll realize why so many have tried to suppress it.”
On the other hand, Lizzie Gladson-Pang expresses her gratitude for the entire experience and for the people surrounding her. She reveals that the team is a large part of the reason why she plans to major in political science next year at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and she couldn’t be any happier.
Constitution Team’s ninth-place finish at nationals is not just a testament to their hard work, but to the lasting friendships, newfound passions, and deeper civic awareness they’ll carry far beyond high school.