The Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced that Oak Hill Middle School is one of 24 middle school civic leaders from eight communities across Georgia that will compete in the National Civics Bee Georgia State Finals June 27 at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
For the first time, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation will host the National Civics Bee Georgia State Finals in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
The 2025 National Civics Bee is an initiative designed to encourage more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. The competition in Georgia will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in their community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions.
Finalists in the National Civics Bee Georgia State Finals attend the following schools:
• Oak Hill Middle School, Milledgeville
• Union Grove Middle School, McDonough
• Smokey Road Middle School, Newnan
• Blake Bass Middle School, Sharpsburg
• Bennett’s Mill Middle School, Fayetteville
• The Heritage School, Newnan
• Whitewater Middle School, Fayetteville
• McIntosh County Middle School, Darien
• Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School, Albany
• Dean Rusk Middle School, Canton
• Trickum Middle School, Lilburn
• Mill Creek Middle School, Woodstock
• Stallings Island Middle School, Martinez
• Riverside Middle School, Evans
• Augusta Chrisian Schools, Martinez In order to qualify for the finals, middle school civic leaders finished in the top three at their local competitions. The Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber Foundation hosted the local competition.
“Preparing the next generation of civic leaders is a key goal of the Georgia Chamber. It’s why we and our Georgia Chamber Foundation team decided to host the National Civics Bee Georgia State Finals, so young Georgia leaders can learn to respectfully engage with each other while developing solutions for their communities,” said President & CEO Chris Clark of the Georgia Chamber. “Our hope is that these young Georgians will continue embracing servant-hearted leadership throughout their lives as they strive to keep Georgia the best state to live, work, and play.”
At the Georgia State Finals, 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.
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 $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.
— Contributed