Arvin Triumphs Over Powerhouse Centennial in ‘We the People’ Competition

Golden Valley High School buzzed with excitement today as students from seven Kern County high schools — Centennial, West, Independence, East, Liberty, Arvin, and host Golden Valley — showcased their constitutional expertise in the annual We the People competition.

Centennial High School, long considered a powerhouse in the annual event with nearly two dozen regional wins, made a strong effort with a 20th Congressional District win and an overall score of 1613, but it was Arvin High School that upset the competition with its 22nd Congressional District win and an overall score of 1686.

Nick Hernandez has been Arvin’s coach for the past five years and also participated in We the People when he attended Arvin High School. He says he’s learned to expect the unexpected. 

“Scores that are reflected from judges tend to be very different from what I anticipated,” he explained. “I gave up on trying to speculate early on.”

Hernandez said one of the great things about the We the People program is the insular nature of the competition. Each school takes over a classroom for the event, and they don’t see the other schools compete. This gives students a chance to focus on their own presentation and not compare themselves to other teams.

“It really is a reflective process,” Hernandez said. “It’s not: ‘I hope my answer was better than theirs,’ it’s: ‘I hope my answer was the best one I could have given.'”

In the end, Hernandez emphasizes that the real competition starts with hours of dedicated practice and repetition so that when the day of the competition arrives, students are knowledgeable, prepared, and confident. 

“This should be just like any other day,” he said. “The process of becoming a knowledgeable person in our society… that’s the real goal of the program.”

A Mock Congressional Hearing

The event, structured like a congressional hearing, featured students tackling complex topics such as the creation of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Amendments, and contemporary applications of constitutional principles. Panels of judges, acting as members of Congress, posed challenging questions, prompting students to think critically, defend their arguments, and even debate with their teammates.

“There are five or four on the team, and they’re not all agreeing because this document [the constitution] is set up to be a debatable document,” said judge and former coach Harry Love. 

For example, students from Unit Two teams dove deep into the debates that shaped the Constitution, exploring the Federalist and Anti-Federalist viewpoints, checks and balances, and the Constitution’s enduring relevance. Centennial’s Unit Two team said this program has taught them more than they ever thought they would learn about the U.S. Constitution, as well as unexpected skills like public speaking and staying calm under pressure.

“I love this experience,” said senior Allie Miller. “It’s definitely taught me how to ease my nerves when it comes to public speaking and just being prepared.”

From left to right: Allie Miller, Allison Hernandez, Elise Jiang, and Aiden Hocevar.

Collaboration is at the heart of the program. Students rely on each other during the hearing, presenting their arguments and answering questions. That dynamic teamwork and the ability to think critically and engage in civil discourse prepares students for success far beyond the competition.

“If I don’t know how to answer a question, I’m always able to rely on my teammates to help out,” said senior Elise Jaing. 

Love, who has been a judge for the competition for nearly 30 years, says the skills these students learn from the We the People competition are invaluable, especially regarding research, public speaking, and combating misinformation in the digital age. 

“You have a phone, and you have all the knowledge the world has ever known, but you also have all the disinformation the world can create,” he explained. “They need to discriminate between the truth and the non-truth, and this program allows them to do that.”

A Legacy of Domination

Centennial High School has consistently set the standard for the We the People competition in Kern County. Since its debut in the 1995-96 academic year, Centennial has fostered a legacy built on tradition, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. 

The program’s journey began under the leadership of David Richmond, who established success from the start. Richmond’s teams captured four state championships and earned two bronze medals at nationals during his tenure, cementing Centennial’s reputation as a powerhouse. Ryan Coleman, now the school’s principal, carried the torch for 12 years, guiding the team to success at the regional and state levels. For the past decade, current coach Joey Biron has upheld the tradition of excellence.

“It’s a great program,” Biron said. “A lot of it has to do with the tradition that was established and the work ethic. It’s a lot of hard work, getting students that are committed, that want to learn.”

Centennial’s accolades include 21 regional championships, four state titles, and four top-ten national finishes. But as Coach Biron emphasizes, the program’s impact extends far beyond the trophies.

“I always tell them that the competition is a means to an end,” he explained. “It’s not about the trophies or medals. It’s about the learning that happens and the growth.”

Coach Joey Biron leads Centennial’s We the People dress rehearsal.

Over the years, many Centennial alums have credited We the People with shaping their futures. Some have pursued careers in law, politics, and public service, including an alum who now serves on the Bakersfield City Council. 

“It’s not about training lawyers or politicians, but I think that the skills that they develop are ones that can take wherever they go,” Biron said. 

A Friendly Rivalry

The spirit of friendly competition blossomed over the years between the top two schools. Administrators familiar with We the People history say that Centennial and Arvin have been neck and neck at the top of the leaderboard for several years, often with only a few points separating the two schools. Hernandez says that competitive spirit helps to give students enthusiasm and drive to succeed, but students may be surprised to find out how similar they are. 

“It is helpful to have that spirit of competition, but there’s far more that these students have in common,” he said. 

Left: Arvin, Right: Centennial.

Hernandez hopes to see more advocacy for related programs at the elementary and middle school levels to not only promote civic studies but also boost interest in the We the People competition. This would give all schools across the region a competitive edge in the California state competition. 

“I would really encourage any middle school or elementary teacher to reach out to your local high school district,” he said. “Teachers, myself included, would be more than willing to offer resources to help get students a little more interested in participating.”

For Biron, the program’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to turn students into well-rounded, informed citizens who know how to research, think critically, and work collaboratively. He says the spirit of the competition thrives in Kern County thanks to the dedication of all the coaches and students. 

“One of the things that makes this competition special is the participation,” he said. We have so many schools participating and a lot of coaches doing a lot of hard work. I’m just lucky enough to be a part of that community and to coach some great kids.”

Results

Overall Results		Score
1st	Arvin	1686
2nd	Cent.	1613
3rd	West	1402
4th	Indy	1329

20th Congressional District 

22nd Congressional District