National Finals: April 9-11, 2025

Prepare to be amazed as high school students from across the nation showcase their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and American government. Now in its fifth decade, the National Finals serves as an exciting finale to students' We the People educational journey. The competition utilizes Simulated Congressional Hearings and typically features 48 teams, each representing their respective states.

Information for Teams & Teachers

Congratulations on reaching the pinnacle of civic education and earning your spot in the We the People National Finals. This is where your journey to become informed and engaged citizens reaches its most exciting chapter!

Here, you will find a collection of essential documents about the competition's structure and the agenda for the National Finals weekend. More information will be added as we get closer to the event, so check back here often for updates.

Who is Participating in 2025

Arkansas
- Winner: Valley View High School—Jonesboro, AR
  Teacher: Melissa Mayfield

Colorado
- Winner: Denver East High School—Denver, CO
  Teacher: Mandy Hostetter
- Wildcard: Grandview High School—Aurora, CO
  Teacher: Jason Kosanovich

Indiana
- Winner: Plainfield High School—Plainfield, IN
  Teacher: Adam Ferguson & Robbie Pelkey
- Wildcard: Fishers High School—Fishers, IN
  Teacher: Liz Paternoster & Matt Follman

Maryland
- Winner: Boonsboro High School—Boonsboro, MD
  Teacher: Ashley Vascik

Nebraska
- Winner: Lincoln East High School—Lincoln, NE
  Teacher: Michaela Schleicher

New York
- Winner: Forest Hills High School—Forest Hills, NY
  Teacher: Tara Kelly

West Virginia
- Winner: Woodrow Wilson High School—Beckley, WV
  Teacher: John Quesenberry

Wyoming
- Winner: Sheridan High School—Sheridan, WY
  Teacher: Michael Thomas
- Wildcard: Cody High School—Cody, WY
  Teacher: Karen Wagner

Check back for updates as more teams are announced based on the results of state competitions.

Upcoming State Competitions

January 10, 2025: New Hampshire
City Wide Community Center, Concord, New Hampshire

January 10, 2025: Michigan
Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan

January 10, 2025: Arizona
Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona

January 10, 2025: Wisconsin
Chicago, Illinois

January 10, 2025: Illinois
Chicago-Kent Law School, Chicago, Illinois

January 11, 2025: Texas
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

January 14, 2025: South Dakota
Black Hills State University, Spearfish, South Dakota

January 15, 2025: Montana
Helena, Montana

January 15, 2025: North Dakota
Inspire Family Fellowship, Bismarck, North Dakota

January 15, 2025: Kentucky
University of Louisville, McConnell Center, Louisville, Kentucky

January 18, 2025: Washington
Washington State Capitol Building and Campus, Olympia, Washington

January 24, 2025: New Mexico
Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, Albuquerque, New Mexico

January 25, 2025: Oregon
Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse, Portland, Oregon

January 25, 2025: Nevada
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada

January 25, 2025: Massachusetts
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Boston, Massachusetts

January 28, 2025: New Jersey
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey

January 29, 2025: Florida
Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida

January 31, 2025: Ohio
Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, Ohio

February 1, 2025: Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

February 1, 2025: Connecticut
TBD

February 1, 2025: California
Sacramento, California

February 1, 2025: Virginia
Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia

February 6, 2025: Rhode Island
TBD

February 7, 2025: Utah
Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah

Important Information for Teachers

2025 Rules and Eligibility for High School Competition

Travel Details

All teams participating in the National Finals must travel with Grand Classroom, our contracted travel vendor for 2025.
Grand Classroom will work directly with teachers to arrange hotel accommodations, travel to the D.C. area, bus transportation to the competition venue, and to other preferred tourism locations.
Grand Classroom will consistently support and assist all teams, promptly addressing any travel needs or concerns, ensuring a smooth and stress-free travel experience for all participants.

About the Hearings

Students' opening statements are four minutes long and may include student notes.
Judges' follow-up questioning on Saturday and Sunday lasts eight minutes; on Monday (top 10), it extends to 10 minutes. During follow-up questioning, students may not use notes.

About Scoring

The scoring team tabulates electronically submitted score sheets from judges, each with five categories. Each category is worth ten points for a maximum score of 50 points per sheet.
Each unit is assessed by three judges, with the highest possible unit score being 150 points.
Classes qualify for the top 10 based on combined scores from the first two days, advancing to round 3 on Monday.
The national winner is determined by doubling the third-day scores and adding them to the total scores for the first two days.

Still Have Questions?

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Emily Voss by email. They can assist you or direct you to additional resources.