The Top 3 winners have been announced for the Western Kentucky Regional Civics Bee, hosted by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. Fifteen finalists participated in the live competition on Saturday, April 22 at The Carson Center in Paducah. The Presidential Sponsors for the event were Data Records Management Services and The Carson Center.

Kaylee Brandon, an eighth grader from South Hopkins Middle School, was awarded first place and the $750 grand prize. Brandon wrote an essay about sex trafficking and how this issue is a growing problem. Brandon noted a solution to solving this problem was bringing awareness to the community, educating others to notice the signs, and how young people can lead the way.

Calleigh Oldja, a seventh grader from Paducah Middle School, took second place and was awarded $500. Her essay was on income inequality. She said two people in the same job, both working hard, should not suffer different economic outcomes because of their race, sex, or other non-economic characteristics.

Luke Whiteside, an eighth grader from Lone Oak Middle School, earned third place and received $250. Whiteside’s essay was about the McCracken County Humane Society. He said he wanted to bring more awareness to the humane society in order to help the nonprofit grow their funding and number of volunteers, both of which are lacking.

The top three winners will advance and compete against other middle school students from across the state at the Kentucky Chamber Civics Bee in Frankfort later this summer. The three winners also received a $100 Visa gift card to be used to offset their travel expenses to the state competition.

All fifteen finalists participating in the live Civics Bee in Paducah received an Amazon Fire tablet.

The Paducah Chamber was chosen by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host the regional competition and received more than 160 essay applications.

Also competing as finalists were:

• Isaiah Cobb, 8th grade, South Hopkins Middle School
• Anna Grace Everett, 8th grade, Lone Oak Middle School
• Braxton Haley, 6th grade, Chandlers Elementary School
• Chandler Harris, 7th grade, James Madison Middle School
• Mason Katich, 6th grade, Browning Springs Middle School
• Sam Marcum, 7th grade, Paducah Middle School
• Deane McKnight, 8th grade, Browning Springs Middle School
• Emerson Smee, 6th grade, Murray Middle School
• Summer Stoakley, 8th grade, Browning Springs Middle School
• Ella Vandermeulen, 7th grade, Lone Oak Middle School
• Chloe Vaughn, 8th grade, South Hopkins Middle School
• Amelia Williams, 7th grade, Browning Springs Middle School