National Civics Bee

Middle School Student Civics Competition

Calling all middle school students!
Share your ideas and flex your civics knowledge in the National Civics Bee®

2026 National Civics Bee - Cedar Rapids, Iowa Regional Competition

About the Bee

The National Civics Bee, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, challenges 6th–8th grade students to demonstrate their civics knowledge and develop ideas for making their communities better. Students begin by submitting an essay, with finalists advancing to live regional and state competitions. The winner of the state competition will have the opportunity to compete at the National Championship in Washington, D.C in Fall of 2027.

Why Civics?

Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance is participating in the National Civics Bee because 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. Through the Bee, we are promoting greater civic knowledge in Iowa and celebrating our civic pride.

How to Enter

If you’re an educator, school administrator, parent, youth organization, community leader or simply know a middle school student who cares about their community, please encourage them to participate in the 2nd Regional National Civics Bee for Spring 2027!

Resources to Help Spread the Word

Applications will open here on September 7, 2026 and run through February 2, 2027.

Regional Competition Information

Resources & Additional Information

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 PRESENTING SPONSOR

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SUPPORTING SPONSOR

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 MERCHANDISE SPONSOR

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 HOST SPONSOR

Sponsorship Opportunities

Are you interested in showcasing your company’s commitment to developing active and engaged citizens? For information about available corporate sponsorships, please contact Pam Logue at plogue@cedarrapids.org.

Have Questions or Need More Information?

Contact Barbra Solberg at bsolberg@cedarrapids.org.

Congratulations, 2026 participants!

The 2026 Regional National Civics Bee competition was held May 19, and featured 17 student finalists representing 4 counties, 5 cities, and 10 schools. Students advanced to the regional competition by submitting essays identifying a community issue and proposing a thoughtful civic solutions demonstrating how individuals, organizations, or government can work together to address local challenges.

This year’s essays tackled a wide range of important topics facing our communities today, including healthcare innovation, public safety, workforce retention, hunger, technology, and more.

Throughout the competition, students competed in two rounds of civics-based multiple-choice questions testing their knowledge of government, history, and civic processes. The top five finalists then advanced to a live question-and-answer round with a panel of judges, where students expanded on their essay topics and demonstrated their ability to think critically and communicate effectively under pressure.

Congratulations to all of our outstanding finalists, and especially to this year’s top finishers, who will represent our region in the state Civics Bee later this summer:

1st Place: Shal Shen for an essay focused on AI in healthcare
2nd Place: Elaine Oberfoell for an essay focused on storm shelters
3rd Place: Raghav Gayatri for an essay addressing Iowa’s brain drain

Events like the Civics Bee help inspire the next generation of engaged citizens and community leaders by encouraging students to better understand how government works and how they can make a meaningful impact in their communities. This year is especially meaningful as our nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

Calling all middle school students! Share your ideas and flex your civics knowledge in the National Civics Bee®