The Buena Vista Regional Finals of the National Civics Bee were held at the Surf Hotel. Photo by Jan Wondra
Essay Submissions Open in Buena Vista area for the 2024 National Civics Bee Competition
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Chamber Foundation this week announced the opening of essay submissions for the second annual 2024 National Civics Bee. The initiative encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. The state chamber has partnered with six local chambers of commerce across Colorado to facilitate the program, including the Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce.
“We’re thrilled to bring this program back for a second year to support civic education for young Coloradans and promote engagement in government and democracy,” said Colorado Chamber president and CEO Loren Furman. “Investing in early civic knowledge will set the foundation for a stronger workforce and healthy economy for future generations across the state. We encourage all interested Buena Vista-area middle school students to get involved!”
This past year was the first year that Buena Vist-area middle schoolers participated in the National Civics Bee, sending three students to the state competition. Ably led by then-Buena Vista chamber Director Heather Rupska, it was a major success. Local sponsors included Truth Has a Voice Foundation DBA Ark Valley Voice, High Country Bank, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association and the League of Women Voters Chaffee County.
Middle school students are invited to compete with their peers at the local and state level. Students will participate in a live quiz event and answer questions from judges to test their civic knowledge. Participating students will flex their civics comprehension for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes.
Finalists from local competitions will be invited to take part in the state-level competition hosted by the Colorado Chamber in Denver on May 17, 2024. The finalists and top winners will receive various prizes, including $1,000 cash for the first-place student. The Colorado state champion will advance to the National Civics Bee competition in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2024 to compete for the national title, as well as over $50,000 in prizes.
Local chamber partners for the 2024 National Civics Bee are as follows:
Arvada Chamber of Commerce
Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce
Craig Chamber of Commerce
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce
Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Bureau
Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Daniel’s Fund, the competitions across Colorado inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and build greater trust in others and institutions. The Colorado Chamber’s 2023 civics bee program was recently recognized as a national finalist for Best Civics Engagement Program.
Students can enter and submit an essay to any location that is near them between now and January 8, 2024. More information on the local and statewide civics bee competitions can be found here: https://cochamber.com/foundation/civicsbee/.
For more information on the 2024 National Civics Bee, visit https://civics.uschamberfoundation.org/national-civics-bee.
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment, and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.
The Colorado Chamber Foundation is a nonprofit educational foundation whose purpose is to support programs, research, educational opportunities, and other initiatives that encourage and enhance a healthy business climate and works in partnership with state business leaders to advance Colorado’s future.
Ark Valley Voice has already committed to being the media sponsor of the local competition.
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