The Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce and the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber Foundation recently hosted the 3rd annual National Civics Bee on Friday, March 27, in Milledgeville — an initiative designed to inspire middle school students to engage in civics and become active contributors in their communities.
Now in its third year, the program continues to grow, with more than 80 essay submissions from local students across Baldwin County and the surrounding area. From those submissions, the top 20 finalists were selected to compete in a live, in-person competition featuring two rounds of civics questions and a live Q&A session. Students demonstrated their understanding of government, community issues, and civic responsibility while presenting thoughtful solutions to challenges facing their communities.
Nicholas H., Mia M., and Alyssa B. were named the top three finalists and will advance to compete in the state-level competition. Nicholas H., a student at Georgia Military College Prep School, was named the overall winner and received a $500 cash prize.
A panel of judges evaluated the students’ performances and selected the top winners:
• Chelsey Brantley, Assistant Director of Leadership Programs at Georgia College & State University
• Carrie Dietrich, Director of Satellite Operations for Baldwin, Jones and Putnam Counties at Central Georgia Technical College
• Anthony Field, Retired “We are incredibly proud to host the National Civics Bee for the third year and to see the continued growth and enthusiasm from our students,” said Kara Lassiter, President & CEO of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce. “With over 80 essay submissions this year, it’s clear that young people in our community are eager to engage, learn, and lead. This program is making a meaningful impact, and we are excited to continue building on its success.”
The National Civics Bee, organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, aims to strengthen civics knowledge and engagement among young Americans.
The Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber extends its sincere appreciation to our title sponsors, Tri-County EMC and Tri-CoGo, for their generous support in making this program possible. The Chamber also thank the students, educators, judges, and community partners who contributed to the success of this year’s event, and we look forward to continuing to grow the program in the years ahead.
- Contributed