Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce hosts successful first annual Civics Bee Competition

Sinclair College was buzzing with bright, young minds as the Dayton region held its first annual Civics Bee Competition!

On April 24th, 20 local students from 11 schools competed in the first annual Civics Bee competition hosted by the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. The event was organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to promote civic engagement among young Americans and encourage them to contribute to their communities.

The competition began in January with a round of essay submissions from students across the Dayton region. The top 20 finalists were then selected to compete in the live event in April. During the live event, the students competed in three rounds, answering multiple choice questions about civics and sharing their ideas for solving community problems. 

This year’s judges included Willis E. Blackshear, Jr., State Representative for Ohio’s 38th House District, Kathie Fleck, Chief of Staff, Ohio Department of Transportation and Helen Jones-Kelley, Executive Director, Montgomery County ADAMHS.

The top three winners of the Dayton Civics Bee are from Oakwood Junior High School, Milton-Union Middle School, and Tippecanoe Middle School. These students demonstrated their knowledge of civics and their passion for solving community problems. Their success at the Dayton Civics Bee has earned them the opportunity to represent Dayton at the state level Civics Bee competition, which will be hosted by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce in June.

The Civics Bee competition is an important initiative that encourages young Americans to learn about civics and engage with their communities. By participating in this competition, students have the opportunity to develop their critical thinking, public speaking, and problem-solving skills. They also have the chance to connect with other students and community leaders who are committed to making a positive impact in their communities.

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to promoting civic engagement among young people in the Dayton region. Through initiatives like the Civics Bee competition, the next generation of leaders is inspired to take an active role in shaping the future of their communities. The Chamber is proud of all the students who participated in this year’s Civics Bee competition, and we congratulate the winners who will represent Dayton at the state level competition!