Centennial High School Victorious at We the People Congressional Hearings

Early December marks the kick-off of student events and competition season in Kern County. First up was the return of the We the People Congressional Hearings held today at Golden Valley High School, where more than 150 high school students gathered to test their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution. Hosted by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, the event consists of teams competing to win the 20th or 22nd Congressional District title. The 20th Congressional District is made up of Centennial and Liberty high schools. Arvin, East, Golden Valley, Ridgeview, and West high schools comprise the 22nd Congressional District.

The competition is more than merely an academic exercise. It’s a platform where students showcase their understanding of constitutional principles through simulated congressional hearings, says event coordinator Christine Goedhart-Humphrey. For months, teams from across Kern County have spent countless hours honing their knowledge of the intricacies of American government.

Each team individually presented testimony in two rounds of six mock congressional hearings. Congressional committees, consisting of community scholars and civic leaders, posed one of three study questions to the students before the competition. Each team was allowed four minutes to present testimony. Then, for an additional six minutes, teams answered questions posed by judges involving constitutional issues raised by historical events. The combined totals of all six team units determined the winner.

Centennial High School has been the event’s powerhouse over the years. According to coach Joseph Biron, in its first year of competition in 1995, Centennial won the region and finished second at state. In all, the team has won the region 22 times, including 12 out of the past 13 years, and boasts four state titles (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003) and has finished in the top ten at nationals four times (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003) including two bronze medals (1998, 1999).

Today’s competition had a familiar result, with Centennial claiming victory again and rival Arvin High School close behind. The team from Arvin is the only opponent to have de-throned Centennial in recent memory when Arvin earned the top spot at regionals in 2018.

Centennial now moves on to the state tournament early next year. Arvin is awaiting whether it will receive a wild card bid to state. Teams that do well enough there are eligible to compete in the national tournament later in 2024.

OVERALL RESULTS

20th Congressional District

1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Liberty High School

22nd Congressional District

1st — Arvin High School
2nd — Golden Valley High School
3rd — West High School

Overall Regional Scoring

1st — Centennial High School
2nd — Arvin High School
3rd — Liberty High School
4th — Golden Valley High School

UNIT RESULTS