On December 16, 2024, Lincoln East High School’s “We the People” team won first place at the state’s annual “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” competition for the seventh consecutive year, qualifying East for nationals. Only containing seniors, this year’s state champions include Nusrat Amin, Abena Bonsu, Ayla Brosman, Gabriel Buggi, Sarah Cai, Nathan Casper, Devin Erickson, Avery Fast, Khoi Le, Nick Li, Elizabeth Mason, Hannah Melton, Alexandra Meyer, Ananya Bindu Mirle, Cing Muang, Aidan Murphy, Kashish Nangia, Eloisa Swinehart, Emma Yin, and Elaine Yu.
In the last 19 years, the Spartans have carried home the championship title 17 times. For 18 of those years, former Lincoln East history teacher Kevin Rippe has taught and coached the course. However, with Rippe’s promotion to the LPS District Office, current Lincoln East AP US Government & Politics teacher Michaela Schleicher took on the role for the first time.
Successful would be an understatement for her first year. Not only did her team win the state championship, but they also managed to make the Washington, D.C. nationals trip a reality for the first time since 2019. With reduced team numbers, from 20 to 14, Lincoln East decided to join with its historic rival, the state runner-up and nationals wild-card qualifier: Lincoln Southwest Silver team, coached by Ryan Salem.
After four months of writing and practicing speeches, as well as selling enchiladas and hosting various food nights, the Lincoln Public Schools team was ready to test their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution at the “We the People: National Finals” competition.
Arriving in Washington, D.C. the afternoon of April 8, 2025, the Spartans and Silverhawks kicked off the trip with a sightseeing tour of some of our nation’s most iconic monuments, including, but not limited to, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. After a day of fun, the team was to rest up for an early, 7 AM competition at The National Conference Center.
In competition, Spartans testified in front of a panel of three judges, many of which were lawyers from across the country. In a four minute written speech, each of the six units, consisting of four or five Spartans or Silverhawks, were to answer a set of Constitutional questions regarding controversial topics using case law, historical evidence, and the Constitution itself. After each speech, an eight-minute follow-up period allowed judges to ask any questions about the speech. Many questions were challenging, and some were easy, but all were to be answered without the help of notes, speeches, or the rest of the team. The only resource an individual had access to was their knowledge.
“It was so much fun to demonstrate the knowledge we had learned throughout the year to answer the judges’ tricky questions,” Lincoln East senior and “We the People” Unit 4 team member Sarah Cai said. “It’s rare that students have a forum to express their political beliefs in collaboration with a group of teammates to an objective panel of judges, and I’m glad I took full advantage of We the People to learn and grow as a student and an active member of our democracy!”
Following the first day of competition was more sightseeing, including the Arlington National Cemetery, World War II Memorial, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. To the Lincolnites’ delight, the following day of competition didn’t start until 2 PM, allowing for a full night of rest and an enjoyable visit to the Library of Congress the morning of.
After a second strong day of competing, Spartans and Silverhawks alike anxiously awaited the results of which teams placed top ten. Unfortunately, Lincoln Public Schools did not. Had they placed, the team would’ve been required to compete a third day. Instead, the team enjoyed exploring Washington, D.C. on their own, following a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building. Where many went to Smithsonian museums, others explored the U.S. Supreme Court Building, revisited the Library of Congress, and admired the architecture of the capital city.
The same evening, Nebraska’s scholars returned to The National Conference Center for the awards ceremony. While Nebraska was ineligible for a team award, Lincoln East Spartans Sarah Cai, Nick Li, Aidan Murphy, and Elaine Yu brought national honor to Nebraska and Lincoln Public Schools as they took home the National Unit 4 Award.
“When we heard our school announced at the awards ceremony, I screamed,” Cai siad. “I’m eternally grateful to our nationals coaches Michaela Schleicher and Kevin Rippe for taking time out of their busy days to help us prepare and practice our speeches.”
With lingering glee from the trip, Spartans and Silverhawks paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre before departing for Lincoln, Nebraska on April 12, 2025. With more success than ever predicted, Schleicher’s first year as coach proved to East High the power of belief. She believed in her students, even when they didn’t believe in themselves. And because of that belief, Schleicher is ready to coach her next students into another national award-winning team.
“I’m hoping that this baseline I now have will continue to excel us,” Schleicher said. “And that we will continue to move that tradition of going to nationals.”
What began as a hope for winning the state competition has evolved into a strive for national success. This is only the first of many triumphs in Schleicher’s “We the People” coaching career.
