A Rockville High School sophomore and a Vernon Center Middle School talented and gifted teacher are headed to Philadelphia this summer to participate in an all-expense paid, weeklong seminar on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the leadup to the American Revolution.
But before they head to Philadelphia for the second Young People’s Continental Congress, student Dominik Rose, 15, and teacher Regina Lee will spend the months leading up to their trip attending online seminars and lectures and completing a variety of assignments on a range of revolutionary era topics.
“We are immersing ourselves in a multi-perspective analysis of how the Revolution and our nation’s values came about, and how we won the Revolutionary War,” Lee said. “And then we spend a week in Philadelphia interacting with the real documents, visiting historic sites, meeting with experts and learning about the different perspectives of the framers.”
The seminars Lee and Dominik will study ahead of the event in Philadelphia have been developed by college professors from institutions such as the University of Virginia and DePauw University.
Once they arrive in Philadelphia, they’ll learn from professors from Villanova University, Yale University, Ursinus College and other institutions, explore historic landmarks such as Independence Hall and Carpenters’ Hall, continue to learn about the Revolutionary era and participate in workshops organized by the Museum of the American Revolution, the National Constitutional Center and others.
Delegates to the Young People’s Continental Congress will also co-create and sign a joint declaration of their aspirations for American democracy, just as their historical counterparts issued the Declaration of Colonial Rights and the Declaration of Independence.
“We are honored and proud that Dominik and Mrs. Lee were selected to represent Vernon and the state of Connecticut at this prestigious program,” Vernon Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph P. Macary said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for an immersive history experience. You can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.”
The event is organized by National History Day and Carpenter’s Hall, where the First Continental Congress met in secret in 1774 and called for the training of a colonial militia, a coordinated boycott of British goods, adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and ultimately demonstrated to the British the colonists resolve to work together to address their grievances against England.
Dominik said the opportunity to attend the program is something he could not pass up, and that he is looking forward to digging into the nitty gritty about what motivated America’s founders.
“I’m curious about the lesser-known events that led to the creation of the Declaration of Independence, such as the Declaratory Act of 1766 and the colonists’ importation and exportation bans that helped lead to the Revolution,” Dominik said.
He also said he is looking forward to hearing from experts about the Revolutionary era, visiting historic sites, viewing original sources of information and taking in the culture of Philadelphia.
Dominik’s father, Dan Westwood, said he is excited about the opportunity his son earned and what he will learn and experience in Philadelphia.
Lee said she asked Dominik to apply for the program because he is remarkably bright and she knew he would take the program and preparation extremely seriously.
For their work, Lee will earn a graduate credit and Dominik will earn a Rockville High School independent study credit.