After months of intense preparation, Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Constitution Team placed 9th out of the top 48 teams in the nation at the 2025 We the People National Finals in Washington, D.C., during the week of Apr. 9. Arcadia was able to advance to the national competition through a wildcard spot after placing 2nd at the California State Finals.
We The People, the institution that hosts the National Finals, tests participants on the fundamental principles of the Constitution and how they have and will continue to influence our government and legal system. The national competition consisted of three days that were judged by panels of constitutional scholars, judges, and attorneys. The first two days of the competition were held at the National Convention Center, where all teams faced two preliminary rounds, presenting on two questions based on the application of constitutional principles. On the third day, held at the National Union Building, only the top 10 teams competed.
The team competed across six specialized units, each focusing on different aspects of the Constitution and U.S. history. Senior Ariel Lew, a member of Unit 4, which focuses on the branches of government, separation of powers, and federalism, described the journey as both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
“Gov Team is designed to be a highly collaborative environment between you, your unit, and the rest of the team,” said Lew. “I spent countless hours independently researching niche pieces of legislation. It never really felt like work. I was passionate about learning and knew my teammates were sacrificing just as much.”
In order to prepare for the competition, the team ran weekly mock competitions and spent hours meeting with their respective units and coaches.
“Leading up to nationals we spent long hours preparing, anywhere from three to eight hour meetings multiple times a week to discuss the topic and stances we wanted to take on our written testimonies,” said senior Ashley Lim, a Unit 1 member.
Despite the immense pressure, the Arcadia team leaned into the challenge, fueled by a mix of optimism and nerves. “Since our first competition at the district level, I competed under the philosophy that I would never be completely satisfied with my preparation because it was impossible to predict exactly what judges would ask,” Lew said. “Instead, I focused on building confidence with my unit to construct strong arguments on the spot.”
“To achieve a top 10 finish was an immense honor and a testament to the hard work of our team, coaches, and alumni,” Lew said. “We were proud to bring Arcadia High School back into the national spotlight after nearly a decade.”
Photo Courtesy of @arcadiagovteam on Instagram
