The Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2024 National Civics Bee in Queen Creek on Feb. 23, an event aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities.
Maya J., August O., Benjamin A. and Shaurya A. were named the top four finalists of Queen Creek’s Civics Bee competition, organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and with the help of local Title Sponsor Arizona Public Service (APS).
“It was so wonderful to meet the students. These are high performers and it is clear they studied hard. Some of these questions were not easy, and one student scored 18 out of 20 points. There were so many students who participated in the National Civics Bee in Queen Creek and learned how the government was founded and how the system works,” said Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce.
Eighteen students took part in the local competition after their essays were chosen from 234 entries. Students participated in a live quiz event and answered questions from judges to test their civic knowledge. Maya J. from Payne Junior High School took first place, followed by August O., Benjamin A. and Shaurya A.
The top four finalists impressed the judges with their understanding of civic principles and related systems, and their use of specific examples and evidence on how their identified problem could be solved for the community.
The first-place winner received a $500 cash prize and will advance to the state competition hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with the other three finalists. The state winners will receive various prizes, including $1,000 for the first-place student. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce will host this event on Friday, May 3 at the Flinn Foundation.
“In recent years, Americans’ civics knowledge has fallen significantly, with 53% not being able to name all three branches of government. At the same time, 79% of eighth graders score below proficient in civics,” said Carolyn Cawley, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “Through the National Civics Bee, we aim to reverse this trend and inspire a new generation of Americans to be civically engaged and active in shaping the future of our communities and our nation.”
Thank you to our sponsor APS and our host Combs Performing Arts Center.
