News Detail

Model Congress Club Wins 1st Place, Welcomes Congressman Klein

The Dwight-Englewood Model Congress Club, under the leadership of president Edmund Janniger '14 and vice president Harrison Gordon ’14, had a successful appearance at Columbia University's Annual High School Model Congress Conference on March 1, 2014, placing 1st by winning the Award for Excellence and the Best Speaker Award, as well as achieving the passage of landmark legislation.
The Dwight-Englewood Model Congress Club, under the leadership of president Edmund Janniger '14 and vice president Harrison Gordon ’14, had a successful appearance at Columbia University's Annual High School Model Congress Conference on March 1, 2014, placing 1st by winning the Award for Excellence and the Best Speaker Award, as well as achieving the passage of landmark legislation.

According to Joshua Ashkinaze '15: "Our countless hours of research and preparation paid off when we got our legislation passed in a near-unanimous vote. I also had the wonderful opportunity to furnish my quick thinking and public speaking skills. I met so many interesting people from across the country, and got to speak on so many issues that are important to me as well as to our nation."

At the Columbia University competition, Joshua earned the Award for Excellence, the conference's highest accolade, and the Best Speaker Award, an honor accorded for being the competition's most eloquent participant. Edmund authored and achieved passage of the American Health Act from both the appropriate committee and the entire Congress. Jacob Snyder '15 and Joshua led the victorious effort to enact their comprehensive drug reform plan while Harrison and Noah Mansoor '15 provided insightful discussion, enhancing enactment.

Devon Galloway of Columbia Law School, who judged the competition, commended the entire Club, writing in his comments: "I would like to note that all of these guys did outstanding work. This is an excellent program! Keep doing what you are doing."

Recently, the club welcomed the Honorable Herbert Klein, former Member of the United States House of Representatives, as their 2014 Dwight-Englewood Model Congress Club Distinguished Lecture on Friday, February 14, at the Imperatore Library.

In his lecture entitled “Politics Today,” Congressman Klein -- who received the Club’s Public Leadership Prize -- discussed his views on contemporary issues facing the United States. He emphasized the importance of bipartisan think tanks in the legislative process, the challenges of campaign finance, controversies related to drawing electoral district boundaries, and repercussions of media bias. Congressman Klein evinced the value of student involvement, proclaiming, "I think that people like you who are young, interested and active in politics and in the political dialogue can have an enormous effect." He also engaged in discussion with students, faculty and staff.

During his time in the legislature of the federal government of the United States, Congressman Klein was a leader on the House Banking and Science Committees. He was the mastermind of the pivotal provision which sparked passage of the legislation that ultimately ended the problems in the Savings & Loan and Thrift Industry. He co-sponsored the bills that sanctioned interstate branch banking. He co-authored the National Competitiveness Act, which he formulated to assist the American industry regain global supremacy in manufacturing. Prior to his election to Congress, Congressman Klein was a Member of the New Jersey General Assembly.

Congressman Klein congratulated D-E on its 125th anniversary and praised the Club's President, stating, "Edmund, you've got a great career in politics. You've got the right poise; you've got the right approach." Upper School Principal Joseph W. Algrant applauded the Model Congress Club at the event's end.

The Dwight-Englewood Model Congress Club, the center for political debate at Dwight-Englewood, maintains the inherent mission of fostering civic involvement within the community. The Club organizes debates of contemporary political issues and teaches members about relevant legislative processes.
Back
Mailing Address: 315 East Palisade Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631
gps: 81 Lincoln Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-9500 Email: d-e@d-e.org
Located in Englewood, New Jersey, Dwight-Englewood is a greater New York City area private school with a rigorous college prep curriculum for boys and girls in preschool through grade 12.