Published
December 03, 2024
On November 12, 27 state champions of the 2024 National Civics Bee® inspired us with their outstanding civics knowledge, skills, and disposition. To reach this national stage, they first penned essays on solutions to community issues and then excelled in local and state competitions. Representing their respective states, these top students traveled to Washington, D.C. for the inaugural National Civics Bee Championship.
The program began on Veterans Day at the World War II Memorial, as the finalists greeted an Honor Flight of veterans from World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. It was a meaningful moment, connecting these young champions with the very individuals who had defended the democratic principles they’d studied so diligently.
Student finalists representing 27 states visit the WWII Memorial on Veterans Day.
(L to R) Emily from Alaska (1st place), Michael from Iowa (2nd place), and Keith from New Mexico (3rd place) proudly hold their trophies as the top winners of the 2024 National Civics Bee Championship.
Michael, the second-place winner from Iowa, shares an embrace with his mother after his impressive performance.
Keith from New Mexico poses with his father and his $15,000 prize for earning third place.
Emily’s winning moment celebrated with confetti and applause as she is crowned the champion.
The next day, the energy was palpable inside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Great Hall. Nickelodeon TV Personality Marc Summers, who brought his signature enthusiasm as Master of Ceremonies, kept the atmosphere lively and engaging. But it was the students who truly stole the show.
Round after round, these remarkable students took on increasingly challenging questions about Supreme Court cases, Constitutional amendments, and more, often leaving the audience—who were participating in an interactive quiz themselves—amazed by the students’ knowledge and poise.
The competition narrowed the field from 27 students to 10 finalists, who pitched their community solutions to a panel of judges and answered follow-up questions. Each proposal incorporated a Founding Principle or demonstrated a Civic Virtue in action.
The accomplished judges included Emma Bloomberg, founder and CEO of Murmuration; Rodney Slater, chair of the National Archives Foundation and former U.S. secretary of transportation; Jim Nicholson, former U.S. secretary of veterans affairs; Allison Matthews, head of Education at Minecraft; and Elaine Buxton, president and CEO of Confero, Inc., the CO—100 2024 America’s Top Small Business.
The top 5 scorers then faced the “Final Challenge,” which tested their quick thinking as they raced to buzz in with answers.
When the final scores were tallied, Emily from Alaska emerged as champion, with Michael from Iowa and Keith from New Mexico finishing in second and third, respectively. Their achievements were celebrated with streamers, oversized checks, and the knowledge that they're part of a movement to reinvigorate civic education across America.
For the champion Emily, the Bill Daniels National Civics Award and $100,000 education savings account open up a world of possibilities. The 14-year-old Anchorage student has her sights set on somewhere like MIT, dreaming of a future career as a satellite and spacecraft programmer at NASA.
Just as Emily’s journey to create change is only getting started, the inaugural National Civics Bee Championship marks the beginning of a much larger vision. With special thanks to our Founding Partner, Daniels Fund, and all of our sponsors—including The Anschutz Foundation, Wilson Garling Foundation, Citizen Travelers, Welcome.US, and Starbucks—the goal is to expand the competition to all 50 states by 2026, just in time to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Here’s how you can get involved:
- Attend competitions: Find the nearest participating partners here. Invite key community leaders, youth organizations, and educators to join you.
- Volunteer: Learn more about serving as an essay judge here and complete the interest form here.
- Get your community started: Recruit your local or state chamber of commerce and learn more about our partners here. Help open doors to new partnerships as we expand to all 50 states.
- Give a gift: Provide financial support through a donation here, or reach out to our team here about sponsorship opportunities.
Stay Connected
Get the latest news and updates on the National Civics Bee delivered straight to your inbox.
About the authors
Alicia Sondberg
Alicia Sondberg is the associate manager of communications and digital marketing at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
