Students at Challenger Intermediate School have embodied their motto, “Be a part of it!” in making History for the state of Kansas. This year, 42 sixth-grade students were involved in passing legislation to make the Silvisaurus Condrayi the Official State Land Fossil. They were inspired to help make this happen because of their math teacher Mr. Condray. He for the last three years, has been in the process of getting the Silvisaurus Condrayi to be the Official State Land Dinosaur because his Grandpa, Warren Condray, was the man who found the only known Land Dinosaur Fossil in Kansas. The bones were found in May of 1955 while Condray was herding cattle on his land in Ottawa County.
After getting the process started, Mr. Condray got his students involved. The students learned how to make a request and start the process of having a hearing. Craig Ryan, the Principal of Challenger, said, “This opportunity has allowed the students to gain the experience of how the government works, a skill these students can carry with them for life.”
While the students were on their trip to the State Capital, three students presented in front of the Senate alongside professional paleontologists. Sophia Phillips, one of the students who presented, said her favorite part of the experience was, “that there has only been one fossil found and getting to see the behind-the-scenes research KU has conducted on the dinosaur.”
Another student, Zach Liedl, stated, “I am excited to make history and help enact the Official Land Dinosaur of Kansas.” The students who went to the hearing also got the opportunity to tour the State Capital and meet with Senator Bowers and Senator Kerschen.
The last of the student speakers, Ava Mantanona, said her favorite part was, “being able to go and speak to senators and make it happen.” After students presented to the Senate, the Senate passed SB 3 (40 - 0) on February 23rd, 2023. Students made a second trip to Topeka to testify to the House of Representatives, where it would be passed (119 - 4) on March 27, 2023. The Governor then signed the law into effect on April 7, 2023. Students made a third and final trip to Topeka to join Governor Kelly in a ceremonious bill signing event, enacting “Silvisaurus Condrayi, a one-one armored ankylosaur approximately 13 feet long that walked across Kansas during the late Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, is hereby designated as the Official Land Fossil of the State of Kansas.”
After the passing of SB 3, Governor Laura Kelly said, "I commend the students at Challenger Intermediate School who engaged throughout the legislative process — from testifying on the bill to getting SB 3 passed. I also want to thank the educators who demonstrated their commitment to these Kansas students' development in critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills with this project."
Please help us congratulate our students and educators from USD 265-Challenger Intermediate School on this significant and historic accomplishment! #ksleg