Sponsors discuss VHHS We the People program

As of press time for the May edition of Vestavia Voice, We the People co-sponsors Amy Maddox and Jane Schaefer had chosen to step away from the We the People program, and there were no sponsors to replace them. At the end of April, however, Maddox and Schaefer chose to continue as sponsors. For an update on We the People, click here.

We the People students have met then-Sen. Barack Obama, sat in U.S. Representatives’ seats, competed in the committee room from the Watergate hearings and consistently placed in the top 10 in the nation. But after 15 years, the Vestavia Hills High School’s mock congressional hearing competition class is coming to an end.

Amy Maddox, one of the sponsors for We the People, first heard about the program when she was teaching at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School. After she was hired at VHHS, she asked to start the program. Jane Schaefer joined as a co-sponsor in the 2007-08 school year.

Students have to try out for We the People, and Maddox said throughout the years, the class has grown more competitive.

“I think the intensity of the program grew after those first few years,” she said. “We won state for the first year in 2005, and that set the bar pretty high for future classes. The kids that we have, who try out and join the program, are really dedicated program.”

As sponsors of the class, Maddox and Schaefer hope students gain valuable communication and teamwork  skills, but they also hope students step away with a greater understanding of government.

“We want them to see how the country came to be, how the government operates today, their role in that,” Maddox said. “We hope to combat the cynicism and inspire them to be a part of positive change.”

They also enjoy seeing students who get involved in government and engage students outside of We the People. 

“We’ve had a number of students over the years actually serve as poll workers, and they really are an inspiration to their classmates,” Schaefer said, “and I don’t just mean within their class. I mean the school as a whole.”

VHHS senior Ching Sullivan said the passion Maddox and Schaefer have for We the People has inspired her to enter the field of government and law.

“They love history and they love this We the People program,” Sullivan said. “They invest everything in to it to make it such a fine institution.”

Vestavia’s We the People team has made the top 10 at Nationals, meaning they get to compete on the third day of the National Invitational, for 11 of the past 12 years. The fact that this is We the People’s last year in the school has pushed students to work harder, Sullivan said.

“We’ve gotten second, we’ve gotten third, we’ve gotten fourth and fifth,” she said. “We’ve never gotten first, so we’re kind of like, ‘Alright guys, this is it. We’ve got to put everything we’ve got into this.’”

Preparing for Nationals means working hard past college applications, and Maddox said that is one thing that shows the dedication of We the People students.

“They are some of our highest achievers in the school, and they know coming in they don’t get to slack second semester of senior year because they’ll be prepping for Nationals, we hope,” she said.

The decision to no longer serve as a sponsor for We the People was not an easy one for Maddox or Schaefer. Even though this program will come to an end, both teachers have looked at other programs to benefit students.

“Stepping away is so bittersweet,” Maddox said. “We love these kids, and we’re so grateful and humbled by the work that they’ve done and the commitment they’ve made.”

As a teacher, Schaefer said We the People was a way to consistently learn from her students. The fact that students step away from the program and continue their involvement in government and law is something she was proud to take part in.

“They don’t do this and say, ‘Yay, I achieved all of this.’ They really want to continue it,” Schaefer said. “It really inspired a passion for it that hopefully is going to last forever.”

Students go on to work on political campaigns, intern at the Capital and keep up to date on political news. The influence Schaefer and Maddox had on students is greater than they realized, Sullivan said. 

“They have devoted their lives to We the People, and I don’t know if they’re away of this, but they’ve impacted so many students,” she said. “I think every Vestavia We the People alum I’ve talked to has said this is the most enriching high school experience anyone could have, and all of that goes to them.”

The We the People team attended Nationals from April 22-25 and placed fourth in the nation. A list of the winners can be found here. 

We the People competition results

► 2006: Top 10 finish at nationals

► 2007: Southeast Regional Award

► 2008: Top 10 finish at nationals

► 2009: Second place at nationals

► 2010: Second place at nationals

► 2011: Top 10 finish at nationals

► 2012: Top 10 finish at nationals

► 2013: Top 10 finish at nationals

► 2014: Top 10 finish at nationals

► 2015: Top 10 finish at nationals

► 2016: Fourth at nationals