WHEREAS, The students of Tahoma Senior High School in Maple Valley, Washington; River's Edge High School in Richland, Washington; and Evergreen High School in Vancouver, 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
     WHEREAS, The students of Tahoma Senior High School won first place in state competition and will be representing all of Washington State in national championship competitions in April; and the students of River's Edge and Evergreen High Schools won second and third place respectively; and
     WHEREAS, This constitutional knowledge will enhance their lives 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 teachers, including Gretchen Wulfing of Tahoma Senior High School, can take 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 fourteenth time, Tahoma Senior High School has won the first place title at the state championship by answering questions using only their knowledge, memory, and reasoning, enabling its team to represent the whole State of Washington when they compete at the national competition in Washington, D.C. 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 all the participants in this program from Tahoma Senior High School, River's Edge High School, and Evergreen High School. Tahoma Senior High School's first place team: Mariah Anderson, Austin Arnold, Krzysztof Bieniek, McKenna Blenz, Chad Burgess, Casey Campbell, Matthew Cunningham, Wiley Duerson, Robin Hanson, Matthew Herman, John Iatesta, David Mahoney, Savannah Marstall, Melissa Moorehead, Tucker Murrey, Eric Nucci, Shelby Pelon, Chanse Pierson, Talitha Shiroma, Jordyn Sifferman, Karissa Smith, Carolyn Stevens, Jonelle Thorsheim, Emily Wittman.
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the members of Tahoma Senior High School's We The People Team, the school's 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.