2013 2nd Annual Constitution Bee

The 2^nd Annual YES for Liberty Constitution Bee was held Sunday, March 3rd at 2:00pm in the KSU Alumni Center.  Seventeen finalists competed for the top scholarship award of $3500.00, ultimately awarded to Nicholas Ercolani, a senior at Kapaun-Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in Wichita.

Chandler Huddleston, sophomore at Rolla High School in far southwestern KS, will receive the second place scholarship of $1500.00.   Third place honors and $750.00 will go to sophomore Marilyn Nguyen, who also hails from Kapaun-Mt. Carmel in Wichita.  Sophomores Huddleston and Nguyen will be eligible to compete again in their junior and senior years.  The awards apply to tuition at any accredited 2- or 4-year public or private college or university; vocational-technical school or trade school located anywhere in the United States.  For more details visit www.YESforLiberty.org.

Other qualifying finalists from across the state included: 

• Alana Bucholtz & Annemarie Bucholtz, Manhattan HS, Manhattan.
• Braxton Butler, Madison HS, Madison;
• Austin Ebert, Clay Center Community HS, Clay Center;
• Christian Garland, Russell HS, Russell;
• Jennifer Hamlin, Holton HS, Holton;
• Taliesin Hutson & Zebulon Hutson, Westmoreland, Blue-Valley-Randolph HS, Randolph;
• Aubrey Liby of Seneca, Baileyville B & B HS, Baileyville;
• Cherilyn Mahoney, Salina South HS, Salina;
• Jacob Milham (2012 - 3^rd Place winner), St. George, Rock Creek HS, Westmoreland/St. George;
• Marilyn Morton, Wichita East HS, Wichita;
• Jacob Nicolet, Burlington HS, Burlington;
• Victoria Purvis, Weskan HS, Weskan;

The event was co-hosted by the Flint Hills Tea Party Educational Fund, Inc. and the KSU College Republicans.  Manhattan Christian Bookstore provided the flags for posting the colors.

Invocation performed by Rev. Dr. Paul Barkey, US Army Ret.

Keynote Address by Joshua Charles, co-author with Glenn Beck of the best-seller "The Original Argument: The Federalists' Case for the Constitution, Adapted for the 21st Century".

2012-1^st-Annual Constitution Bee 2^nd-Place winner Lane Frazier also addressed this year's participants to express how his award last year changed his outlook and changed his life for the better, with newly enhanced appreciation of our Founding Documents, the Founders themselves, and insights gained from his experience in the Bee.

Judging the competition were Dr. Paul Ibbetson, popular author & “Conscience of Kansas” talk-radio host; Charlotte O’Hara, former KS Representative; and Larry Halloran, VP of Kansans for Liberty.

Special guests in attendance included KS Rep. Ron Highland and his wife, Linda, of Wamego; KS Rep. Tom Phillips with his wife, Dr. Deb Doubek, of Manhattan; David Powell of El Dorado, 2014 KS Insurance Commissioner candidate; Kathy Martin, former member of KS State Board of Education; Darlene Cornfield of Valley Center, former KS Representative.

Invitations were mailed to more than 430 high school principals and counselors across Kansas, including all known public, private, military & home-schools.  Online applications for the school year 2012-2013, from eligible Kansas 9-12 graders, opened on Constitution Day, September 17, 2012 and closed on December 31, 2012.

 FHTP-Educational Fund Board Chairman Robert Deemie hosted the event, ably assisted by his wife Linda and FHTP-EF Board members John & Judy Ball, John Ford, Tom & Sylda Nichols, Marvin & Vicki Rodriguez, Larry & Chris Tawney, with Celebrity Statesman Master of Ceremonies "George Washington" to oversee the proceedings.

Bockers II of Manhattan provided terrific and splendid catering for the reception after the awards.

Videography provided by Bob & Brenda Bowser of Salina KS.  Still Photography provided by Mike Schraeder and Evan Parsons of Manhattan.  Graphic design provided by Carolyn Wells of Manhattan.  Award Calligraphy performed by Chuck Henderson of Manhattan.

Various volunteer assistance provided by Rane Cravens, Michael Hampton & Alisa Maso of KSU-College Republicans, Erika Losonsky of Junction City, Willis & Helen Poppe of Olsburg KS, Sharon Greene of Riley KS, Courtney Solberg of Manhattan, Jerry Ukena of Manhattan, Karla Parsons of Manhattan, Rachelle Routh of Wamego KS, Ron Long of Wichita and many others throughout the year...

Our deepest gratitude also to the Operations Management & Staff of the KSU Alumni Center for their wonderful assistance in making our event at their venue the complete success we all enjoyed.

Other generous considerations provided by Thomas Sign Co., EP Printsource and GTM Sportswear, all of Manhattan.

We gratefully acknowledge funding and support contributed by volunteers and enhanced by these donors: 

Benefactor Level - R-Tech Tool & Machine, Inc., Wamego

Sponsor Level -  Parsons Communication, Inc., Manhattan

                                Lee & Theresa Niblock, Stockton KS

Sponsor Level Memorial Honors - the late Joe D. Koukol, WWII veteran, Belleville KS.

Donors and volunteers are always welcome.  For additional information about the program, to confirm your school’s contact information is on our mailing list, or to add your name for direct notification for the 2013-2014 program, contact us at info@YesforLiberty.org.