The We the People competition is a national competition where students represent a school and demonstrate their knowledge and application of the U.S. Constitution in front of judge panels. This year, Bellarmine seniors took on We the People as part of their AP U.S. Government course. This year marked the second Bellarmine class to participate in the competition, led by history teacher and long-time We the People coach Ken Brown. The students were divided into six units, with each one spending the year becoming experts on Constitutional concepts ranging from philosophical foundations to its impact on modern politics. 

In January 2025, students entered the state-level round of competition, held at the Washington state capital in Olympia. Competitors included Maple Valley’s Tahoma High School—who continued their 23-year winning streak—and Vancouver’s Evergreen High School. 

Bellarmine earned second place, securing their wildcard spot for nationals. We The People participant Cassandra Brinlee said, “The best way to prepare for [the competition] was to actually be interested in the topic.” Brinlee said her passion for the subjects grew exponentially the more she engaged with the historical topics and met with local policymakers to prepare. Her experience is a true testament to the dedication and talent displayed by students in the competition. 

After placing second in the state We The People semi-finals, the team traveled to Washington, D.C. for the national competition. Although they did not attain a national award, the team put on an impressive performance and earned much praise from competition judges. Following a score mixup resolved after the competition, the national title went to Oregon and Oregon Wildcard teams Lincoln and Sprague high schools, respectively.

Besides competing, students visited famous monuments and sites while in the D.C. area, including: Smithsonian Museums, Arlington Cemetery, the Washington and Lincoln memorials, and more. In addition, students were granted the honor of meeting with Emily Randall, the U.S. Representative for Washington’s 6th congressional district. These opportunities allowed students to experience the full spectrum of American history and more deeply understand the functions and benefits of U.S. democracy. Student participant Sol Sharkey says, “You feel more heard if you know a person face to face. She’s an actual person…not just a pawn of a party.” 

Sharkey is not the only student to experience a new perspective as a result of We the People. When asked what they would take away from the class, students responding with the following reflections: 

Logan Lindsell said, “The course really emphasized the importance of participating in civic life.” Before taking the class, Lindsell says, “I never actually took any initiative to [get involved in civic life], and the class kind of forced me into doing that” 

Ethan Faini said, “I’m more confident that I know my rights.” 

These anecdotes display the empowerment students received from intensive education on the foundations of American democracy and speaking with local politicians. While the program will not continue into the next school year, adviser Brown is hopeful that students in future classes will be inspired by all the program has to offer, reviving Bellarmine We the People.

Brown says, “There has never been a more important time for students to understand all sides of important social, economic, and political issues. We The People teaches students to think critically and disagree respectfully.”