The 32nd Annual We the People National Finals looks forward to welcoming parents and other visitors from around the country. Every year more than 1,000 parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors travel to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the accomplishment of these remarkable students. The following information will help you better understand and enjoy the competition and events.
Don't miss our two livestreams, which you can watch on the Center for Civic Education's Facebook page:
Top Ten Announcement: Sunday, April 28 at 9:15 p.m. EST
Awards Ceremony: Monday, April 29 at 8:30 p.m. EST
Information Desk > Learn More
Hearing Rooms > Learn More
Student Briefing Room > Learn More
Parents and Visitors > Learn More
Awards Ceremony > Learn More
Area Hotels for Parents and Visitors > Learn More
Registration Desk (West Building) and Information Table (North Building)
On Saturday, visitors must register at the Center’s Registration Desk located near West Belmont Place entrance of the West Building of the National Conference Center. Each visitor will be issued a state badge that must be worn at all times during competition events. On Sunday, visitors may revisit the Registration Desk for a new badge or use their old badge and go directly to the North Building and wait in the Visitors Lounge. Guests may use their name badge from Saturday or request a new badge at the Information Table in the West Building. Any person not wearing a name or state badge will be denied access to hearing rooms. Parents and visitors may attend the student orientation or wait for the hearings to begin at the Visitors Lounge in the North building.
Saturday and Sunday
Every effort will be made to ensure that parents and visitors who have come to see a particular student testify will be seated in the room during that student’s unit hearing. Classes that have a large number of parents and visitors may have to devise rotation schedule. To ensure the hearings are not interrupted, parents and visitors will be admitted to the hearing room at appropriate break times between units.
To ensure fairness anyone affiliated with a competing class (teachers, coaches, students, chaperons, parents, friends, relatives, etc.) may not enter the hearing room of any other competing class. Once a class hearing is completed, floor supervisors and Center staff will help exit classes and visitors in a timely fashion.
Monday
The final round of competition will take place in hearing rooms in Capitol Hill. Hearing sessions are 10:00 am-1:00 pm and 2:00 pm-5:00 pm. Visitors do not need to register to observe Monday's hearings - there will be no Information Desk on Monday. Parents and guests can report directly to their assigned hearing room. All National Finals guests are welcome to observe the Top Ten hearings, with one important exception: Students testifying in the afternoon cannot attend morning hearings. The same rules applies to the team's teacher, parents, friends, and supporters. If you have any questions or concerns during the day, you may report to the Center's administative office at Cannon 121.
Please Note: If hearing rooms are not available on Capitol Hill, the final round of competition will take place in hearing rooms at the National Conference Center.
Monday Top Ten Hearing Schedule
The Student Orientation will he held in the Loudoun Room of the National Conference Center. On the Saturday and Sunday there will be a half hour briefing for all classes before the hearings begin. Robert Leming, Director of the We the People Programs and Mark Molli, Director of Governmental Relations will officially welcome students, teachers, parents, and visitors to the 32nd We the People National Finals and address the students about important matters concerning the competition. Upon arrival floor supervisors and Center staff will direct students to the orientation room. Parents and visitors are welcome. At the end of the briefing, floor supervisors and Center staff will direct classes to their hearing rooms. Once all classes have been dismissed, parents and visitors will be directed to the hearing rooms.
Watch the livestream of the awards ceremony on the Center for Civic Education's Facebook page on Monday, April 29, beginning at 8:30 pm Eastern. The awards ceremony is the culminating event of the 32nd Annual We the People National Finals and a time to celebrate the accomplishments of all of the students and teachers participating in the competition will be held in the Ballroom of the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia.
