Approximately 15 fifth-graders from Patrick Henry Elementary School attempted to stump Colorado College students in the Worner Campus Center on Friday, Dec. 11, testing their knowledge of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
The younger students have been studying the history of the documents, their content, and their impact on everyday life. The visit to Colorado College was the culmination of their studies and they weren’t shy about testing the CC students’ knowledge.

“What rights are guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment?” fifth-grader Rafael Hernandez asked Kyle Novak, a senior from Princeton, N.J. Kyle, an English major, answered correctly, but confessed that he hadn’t gotten some earlier questions right. “That’s OK,” Rafael replied, “you did pretty good,” adding Kyle probably earned a B+. “Wow,” Kyle responded, “he sure is an easier grader than Tom Cronin!”

First-year student Maggie Ruble from Portland, Ore., who volunteers with local fourth-graders, said it was fun having the students on campus. She too got most, but not all, of the questions right.

The Patrick Henry Elementary School students also met with Political Science Professor Bob Loevy and ate lunch in Rastall Hall. Virginia Vonderweidt, programs assistant for Partnership for Civic Engagement who helped coordinate the visit, said one of the fifth-graders had only taken about 10 steps into the Worner Center when he stopped and said, “I want to go to college,” and pointing at floor, emphatically added, “here.”

Colorado College joined forces with several local service clubs, including the Colorado Springs Sertoma Club and the Academy Optimist Club, for the event.