National Civics Bee
Calling all middle school students!
Share your ideas and show off your citizenship skills in the National Civics Bee.
About the Bee
All 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in public, private and home schools in Kentucky are invited to compete in the National Civics Bee, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber Foundation.
The National Civics Bee is aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Plus, students could win cash and prizes, and earn bragging rights for their school!
To enter, students should submit an essay using the following prompts:
- IDENTIFY a specific opportunity, problem, or challenge in your community. What is something in your school, neighborhood, or town that could be improved? (100 words minimum–150 words maximum)
- DESCRIBE the steps you would take to make this change. What will you do to make a positive impact, and why does it matter? (150 words minimum–200 words maximum)
- FIND support to help bring the idea to life. Think about student groups, teachers, local businesses, community organizations, city leaders, or others. (100 words minimum–150 words maximum)
- CONNECT your idea to the values that shaped our country. How does your idea reflect the Founding Principles and Civic Virtues of our country? Use examples from the Founding Principles and Civic Virtues to show how your idea reflects the responsibilities of citizenship. (150 words minimum–250 words maximum)
The essay application portal is OPEN and will close on February 3, 2026.
The top 20 essay finalists will be invited to compete in the Western Kentucky Regional live quiz competition, hosted in Paducah, KY. Finalists will receive various prizes, and first place earns $500 cash.
The top three winners from the Western Kentucky Regional Competition will then advance to compete against other middle school students from across the state at the Kentucky Chamber’s state competition; and then the top three state level winners will advance to the national championship in Washington D.C.
How to Enter
The submission window for essays is OPEN!.
The deadline to submit an essay is February 3, 2026.
Click HERE for the Application Portal Dashboard.
There you will find an Essay Guide and students can create an account in order to access the essay application form.
Before you apply, review the Contest Rules and Privacy Policy. Click here for FAQs.
Learn more at https://nationalcivicsbee.org
Why Civics?
We believe that informed and active citizens make for a strong country, a strong economy, and a strong workforce, and that our continued prosperity depends on the strength of all three. The National Civics Bee is a way to promote greater civics knowledge and civic participation across the country, and to energize our community with a celebration of civic pride.
CLICK HERE for an Informational Flyer
Want to see what it’s like to compete in a National Civics Bee?
Important Dates
- Essay Submission Window is Open: NOW!
- Essay Submission Window Closes: February 3, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. CST
- Top 20 Finalists Notified: Mid-Late February 2026
- Western Kentucky Regional Competition: Tentatively April 2026, Location TBD in Paducah, KY
- Kentucky State Competition: Tentatively August 2026, TBD
- National Competition: Fall 2026
Please email info@paducahchamber.org with any questions.
Thank you to our partners and sponsors:
