Saint Mark’s teacher Barb Stefani, left, and junior Zhara Waters, will head to the Young People’s Continental Congress in July.
Saint Mark’s High School in Wilmington is sending a teacher-student duo to the esteemed Young People’s Continental Congress (YPCC) in the City of Brotherly Love this summer.
Barb Stefani, an educator at Saint Mark’s, and Zhara Waters, a standout junior, have been selected to participate in the program, which gathers exceptional students and educators from across the nation, offers participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of American democracy and its founding principles.
Reaction from Saint Mark’s duo
“I am thrilled to participate in the 2025 Young People’s Continental Congress in Philadelphia,” Stefani said. “This experience will deepen my understanding of constitutional principles and legislative processes, allowing me to bring richer discussions into my classroom. By connecting history to current events, I hope to empower my students to think critically and engage as active citizens in our democracy.”
Stefani, who teaches Economics, Government & Law, and Entrepreneurism at Saint Mark’s, will join Waters this July for an immersive experience at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia.
This historic site, known as the birthplace of Pennsylvania and a crucial location in early U.S. history, will serve as the backdrop for their participation in the YPCC.
The program explores the relevance of America’s founding principles through interactive discussions and engagement with historical landmarks, offering a unique opportunity for learning both inside and outside the classroom.
As part of their preparation, Stefani and Waters have been engaging in online YPCC courses, studying topics such as the Continental Congress, law, and economic liberty. Their participation reflects their shared commitment to understanding civic responsibility and historical exploration.
For Waters, a passionate history and civics student, the experience will be particularly meaningful.
With aspirations to pursue a law degree and become an attorney after her time at Saint Mark’s, Waters expressed her excitement about being chosen for the prestigious program.
“This is such a huge honor for any student, and with how much I’ve always loved history, I’m so happy to have been selected,” she said. “It’s one thing to read about the founding fathers of America, but I’m beyond excited to get to visit the places where everything happened and to learn history in the room where it happened. I’m so grateful for this wonderful opportunity.”
Saint Mark’s Principal Eileen Wilkinson offered her congratulations to Stefani and Waters, praising their dedication to learning and leadership.
“Ms. Stefani has distinguished herself as an educator who is constantly learning in order to bring the best in Social Studies education to her students,” she said. “The YPCC is unique in fostering partnerships between students and teachers. Ms. Stefani and Zhara are the perfect pair for this innovative program.”
The duo are the only two from Delaware attending.
The application process was quite rigorous, and they both had to write separate essays about the constitution and why they wanted to learn more about it. Stefani also had to get two letters of recommendation.
There is no prize or award, but rather the experience and prestige, and there are about 20 teacher-student groups from all over country.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
