PJC celebrates Constitution Day 2015

Published or Revised October 22, 2015

Constitution Day was celebrated by Paris Junior College students in Paris, Greenville and Sulphur Springs on Sept. 16 and 17, as well as at several participating high schools. Constitution Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution that was signed on Sept. 17, 1787. “Once again we proved that PJC students do know a lot about the Constitution and I’m very proud of how well they did today,” said event organizer and Government Instructor Ruth Ann Alsobrook. “I spend a lot of time in my classes teaching students what is in the Constitution and they go out and they conduct surveys of 20 people over the age of 18 ‘tell me what’s in the Constitution’ and most people can’t do it. This game makes it fun.” Constitution Day is held each Sept. 17 and dedicated to increasing students’ knowledge of the U.S. Constitution. PJC’s Constitution Day Jeopardy involves a computerized game displayed on a giant screen, with teams raising paper placards to be called on. Points are scored with correctly phrased questions to posted answers - standard for the game of Jeopardy. The team with the highest scores were ranked in first, second and third place. In Paris, students from Phi Theta Kappa dressed in period costume to help run the game, spot who was first to have an answer and keep score. Government Instructor and event organizer Ruth Ann Alsobrook announced the answers and History Instructor Ty Welborn was judge. In Greenville and Sulphur Springs, History and Government Instructor David Larkin ran the games and Off-Campus Librarian Carl Covert was judge. Participating high schools included Wolfe City, Chisum, Honey Grove and Sulphur Springs. In Paris, first place went to “The Somethings” group of Andrew Babb, Cheyenne King and Jerica Newman; second place to the SGA group of Davarie Johnson, Michael Craig and Michael Loranger, and third place to the PJC softball team members Taylor Rivera, Elizabeth Ahrens and Sierra Valdez. At the PJC-Greenville Center the first place team included Chandler Douglas of Greenville and Alee Corrales of Quinlan; the second place team had Caleb Artis and Pam Evans; and the third place team included David Guittard, Justin James and Angela Miskell. The first place group at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center consisted of Sean Allemang, Patricia Parks and Joshua Robertson; second place team included Destinee Clark, Mattison Medeline and Elizabeth Cochran; and the third place team included Molly Johnston, Lexi Anderson and Ryan Wilson. At Wolfe City, each high school grade had two teams. History Instructor D’Lynn Gage was judge, and Alsobrook ran the game. The first place winners received jump drives and second place were awarded ear buds in the school colors. At Chisum High School, Brandon Gillen and Jessica Perez were the winners.