WHEREAS, The students of Tahoma Senior 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 well the lessons of our forefathers who wrote the Constitution of the United States. The students were first runner-up in the state competition; and
     WHEREAS, This masters level knowledge of the U.S. Constitution will enhance the lives of the 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 prepare the students 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 a future President; and
     WHEREAS, Their dedicated and talented teacher, Gretchen Wulfing of Tahoma Senior High School, can take pride in knowing that the students enrolled in this program have the knowledge to deliver an expert level performance against 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, Tahoma Senior High School has won the first place title at the state championship thirteen times and first runner up at least twice by answering questions using only their knowledge, memory, and reasoning. This skill has enabled its members to represent the whole State of Washington when they compete at the national competition in Washington, D.C. and act as first runner-up for this competition in April; and
     WHEREAS, In 2000, Tahoma Senior High School was fourth in the nation, in 2002 and 2008 they won the Western Regional Award, and in 2003 the We The People Team won the top Unit Two in the Nation Award;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the participants in this program from Tahoma High School's exceptional team: Danny Bauer, Orie Bayer, Rachael Bowers, Tony Buhr, Jayson Clem, Matthew Cookman, Jimmy Creek, Erin Day, Sophie DiDonato, Jordan Heintz, Sydney Hobson, Riana Hull, Ann Layman, Kelly Lehigh, Richard Myers, Sean Peerenboom, Kyla Potter, Jeanny Rhee, Kelton Sears, Taylor Shiroma, Brenna Stroup, Hannah Stumpp, Nishanth Sukasi, Charles Tilander, Hanna Vander Woude, Kayla Warr, Haley Williams, and Kyle Zemek.
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the members of the We The People Team, their teacher Gretchen Wulfing, and the principal of Tahoma Senior High School, Terry Duty, to further show the respect of this body for a job well done and wish them success in their endeavors.