Buckingham Elementary fifth graders win Rendell Center Citizenship Challenge

Linda Raitt Monkoski’s fifth grade class from Buckingham Elementary School won first place in the Rendell Center Citizenship Challenge at the National Constitution Center on Jan. 18.

Over 250 fifth grade classes throughout the commonwealth competed and answered the question: Explain the First Amendment to the Constitution, its importance to Americans, and indicate which freedom you think is most important and why. Students submitted an essay, prepared a presentation, and answered Constitutional questions from a panel of judges including the former Gov. Ed Rendell, two U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals Superior Court Judges including Judge Marjorie Rendell, a former secretary of education for Pennsylvania, and a former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios.

The competition aired on PCNTV and the $1,000 first place prize will be used toward civic learning and a trip to Harrisburg to meet with legislators.

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