Nova Middle School again takes top honors in national civics competition
Nova Middle School students recently won their third consecutive national championship in the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national civics competition in Washington, D.C. “Because of what I learned in this class and competition, it gave me my own opinion about what the system excels on, and what the system lacks,” said team member Nisin Nidheesh. “It makes me want to enter government to fix the flaws and represent the people – maybe as a senator, or legislator, or even president.”
Nova Middle School, led by Kristin Murphy, a Plantation attorney-turned-middle-school-teacher, has won its third consecutive national championship in the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national civics competition, which engages students in simulated congressional hearings.
The 21-member team learned of their win while on a train returning to Florida from Washington, D.C., after competing April 25-26.
The experience had a highly impactful effect on the young people who participated.
“I’ve heard several students say they are interested in pursuing law or a law-related field,” stated Murphy, who added that Nova Middle School intends to participate in the competition every year.
“In my opinion, this should be a required part of the civics curriculum,” said Murphy.
Murphy’s husband and team co-coach, Will Murphy, a fellow member of the Bar, volunteered 20-plus hours per week since August 2024 to support the program’s success.
“Winning was frosting on a fantastic cake,” Will Murphy said. “Those kids worked so hard. They were very keen not to let us down, not to let down their school and their teammates. They learned a lot, both about the underlying material . . . and about teamwork, being disciplined and focused. They earned the win, and it was very rewarding for us as teacher and coach to see them get a great outcome.”
Florida Bar member Doug Oswald also volunteered for the second year in a row, doing practice sessions with the team to help them prepare.
“Kristin is doing an outstanding job,” said Oswald. “This program is critically important because it helps students understand the ideals and values of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution – the ideals and values that make us Americans. I’m glad to assist this endeavor.”
During the six-day trip to the nation’s capital, the team also toured historic sites “to bring the material to life for the kids,” said Kristin Murphy. The trip included visits to:
- The Capitol
- The Supreme Court
- The White House
- National Archives Museum, where the kids saw the original Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence
- Lincoln Memorial
- Vietnam Memorial
- Jamestown, Virginia
- Colonial Williamsburg, where they participated in an interactive Revolutionary War experience
- Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s house
- The University of Virginia
- The American History Museum
- Arlington National Cemetery, where they saw the changing of the guard
- Natural History Museum
Team member Nisin Nidheesh said the experience has inspired him to become a lawyer.
“Because of what I learned in this class and competition, it gave me my own opinion about what the system excels on, and what the system lacks. It makes me want to enter government to fix the flaws and represent the people – maybe as a senator, or legislator, or even president,” said Nidheesh.
Team member Muriel Ocampo-Hartmann said, “Winning to me means knowing, deep inside, that you did your best. That you didn’t slack off when it mattered. That you made your teammates and your teacher proud. That you persevered, even when you got overwhelmed…Unlike some of my classmates, I’m not 100% sure I want to be a lawyer. It’s closer to 99%. But I do know that whatever I decide to do, I’ll use the skills I learned while preparing for this competition, because these skills can be used in every career. Perseverance, self-confidence, trust in others, and discipline will never fail you.”
To help pay for the trip, which cost $2,000 per student, Murphy led several fundraising efforts. Her nonprofit, Raising the Bar — the Next Generation, which works to support Title I law programs, contributed $1,000 for each student toward the trip.
Learn more about Murphy’s efforts at www.mrsmurphyslaw.org/.
