WHEREAS, The students of Tahoma High School in Maple Valley, Washington, enrolled in the program known as "We The People, The Citizen and Constitution" have exhibited that they have learned very well the lessons of our forefathers who wrote the Constitution of the United States and will be representing all of Washington in national championship competitions; and
     WHEREAS, The students of Gig Harbor High School in Gig Harbor, Washington, have also demonstrated an impressive grasp of the Constitution of the United States; and
     WHEREAS, This knowledge will enhance the lives of these students and direct their paths as they walk through life, proud in the knowledge that Americans have long stood for justice and liberty for all Americans; and
     WHEREAS, Being armed with this knowledge is to the benefit of all citizens of this great country and state and will encourage them to participate in the democracy men and women have fought so gallantly to preserve; and
     WHEREAS, These energetic, knowledgeable young people will one day lead this state and country, and there may very well be in their midst a legislator, governor, senator, member of Congress, or perhaps even a future President; and
     WHEREAS, The dedicated and talented Teachers of the "We The People" program, Stephanie Davis of Tahoma High School, and Ken Brown of Gig Harbor High School, can take great pride in knowing that the students enrolled in this program have the knowledge to outperform university students in every topic; and
     WHEREAS, Studies have shown that eighty percent of seniors in high school participating in this program have registered to vote compared to an average of thirty-seven percent among other high school seniors, thereby proving that this program has increased the interest in politics and in participation in government; and
     WHEREAS, For the ninth consecutive year, Tahoma High School has won the first place title at the state championship, enabling its members to represent the whole state of Washington when they compete at the national competition in Washington, D.C.; and
     WHEREAS, For the second consecutive year, Gig Harbor High School finished in second place at the state championship;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the participants in this program from Tahoma High School's first place team: Brent Ludeman, Evie Edwards, Kasey Schmidt, Ed Pivarsky, Lindsay Stephens, Jana Kelly, Corey Pilgrim, Dasha Green, Rachel Boutros, Lindsay Michelson, Joe Belsha, Jennifer Walker, Kwak Jebuni-Frimpong, Kristina Olarte, Delana Combs, Tatiana Milne, Maricelle Cardenas, Derek Day, Eric Sizer, Tyler Solheim, Jon Brumbach, Joseph Kennedy, and Sarah Buban; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives also honor the participants in this program from Gig Harbor High School's second place team: Christy Bothwell, Jeremy Bryant, Darryl Colman, Kevin Cummings, Emily Dale, Joseph Duncan, Aaron Floyd, Brooke Gershman, Julie Gillman, Stephanie Gillman, Annie Gutierrez, Lisa Harvey, Alison Hjelseth, Pat Hodder, Matt Larson, Jason Lindquist, Blythe McLoughlin, Aimee Miles, Chelsea Moore, Kacie Mulhern, Rachel Neff, Karin Pearson, Mike Perez, Rachel Phillips, Christina Ratkus, John Sweeney, Daniel Tipton, and David Tobias. All are students making their families and communities proud; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the members of the We The People Team, their teachers Stephanie Davis and Ken Brown, and the principals of Tahoma High School and Gig Harbor High School to further show the respect of this body for a job well done.