CLOSE UP - OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma Close Up is a four-day government studies program designed to strengthen participants’ knowledge of the political process. Every February, participants witness how Oklahoma state government works through experiential civic education activities such as mock legislative hearings and court proceedings. The Close Up Program is open for 9^th - 12^th grade students attending public, private, or parochial schools, as well as those home schooled. Oklahoma Close Up is sponsored by the Close Up Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit 501(c)(3) nonpartisan citizenship educational organization, and is co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association.

For more information, contact:
Ann Kennedy, (405) 703-2041 (e-mail)
Eugene Earsom, (405) 325-5832 (e-mail)

MOCK TRIAL

Oklahoma High School Mock Trial program is co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA), the OBA Young Lawyers Division and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. Through a mock trial process, this hands-on experience affords high school students the opportunity to learn about Constitutional rights and responsibilities and the American judicial system.

For more information, contact:
Judy Spencer, OBA Mock Trial Coordinator, (405) 755-1066 (e-mail)

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY CONTEST

The National History Day Contest state competition is a one-day event in May, sponsored by the Oklahoma Historical Society. Students are invited to research topics related to certain themes, such as the 2005 theme, “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding.” Featured categories include performance, papers, documentaries, and exhibits divided into junior and senior divisions. Competition is held at the State Capitol. Regional competitions are held earlier in spring.

For more information, contact:
Kelsey Arnold at the Oklahoma Historical Society, (405) 522-0692