The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry is supporting the 2025 National Civics Bee®, an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Hosted in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in South Dakota will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions.
Participants in the National Civics Bee® will have the chance to gain recognition for their civics knowledge and skills, and compete for prestigious awards, including prizes worth at least $1,000 for the state champion and $50,000 for the national winner. The competition enables students to explore issues that matter to their communities, furthering their understanding of civic engagement and fostering responsible citizenship.
The South Dakota Chamber will host the National Civics Bee® South Dakota State Finals in the summer of 2025. Finalists from confirmed local competitions in Brookings, Dakota Dunes and Rapid City will be invited to take part in the state-level competition. Middle school students (6th, 7th & 8th grade) from throughout South Dakota may apply to the competition closest to them. Applications are submitted online, with a deadline of February 4, 2025.
Students will participate in a live quiz event and answer questions from judges to test their civic knowledge. The winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national championship in the fall of 2025.
Steve Kirby, Founding Partner and President, Bluestem Capital in Sioux Falls, past board chair of the South Dakota Chamber and current member of the US Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors said, “The Civics Bee doesn’t just teach young people about how our communities function, it has them actively suggest ideas about a current issue.” He continued, “We need to have more people understand how civics work to preserve a citizen led democracy.”
For more information on entering the National Civics Bee® in South Dakota visit: https:/bit.ly/3BX6Nq1 or nationalcivicsbee.org.
Comments