Overland Park, Kan., April 18, 2025 – Three local middle school students took first, second, and third place in the Johnson County qualifier for the 2025 National Civics Bee^® on April 16 at Johnson County Community College. Evergy was the Presenting Sponsor.

The three winners were:

• 1^st place – Madeleine S., Prairie Star Middle School
• 2^nd place – Shahreen A., Oxford Middle School
• 3^rd place – Jack H., Leawood Middle School

Nineteen students competed in the live competition, which was sponsored by the Overland Park Chamber Foundation and Greater Topeka Partnership and was open to all middle school students in Kansas. Finalists were selected based on essays identifying a problem in their community and suggesting a solution. In the live local competition, finalists were tested on their knowledge of American history and government. The top five presented their essays and answered questions from judges.

The first place winner earned a $500 cash prize, second place received a $250 cash prize, and third place won a $125 cash prize. Each finalist was gifted a digital tablet courtesy of UMB Bank, n.a. The three top winners advance to the state competition hosted by the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita on June 5.

State champions receive a trip to Washington, DC to compete in the national-level competition hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which features a grand prize of a $100,000 education savings plan for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $15,000 for third place. The 2024 state champion who represented Kansas at the national level was Rishaan P., a Blue Valley Schools student.

The National Civics Bee^® was started by The Civic Trust, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It seeks to cultivate future leaders through critical thinking, problem-solving, and civic engagement. Students who participate in the National Civics Bee^® gain knowledge about American democracy, practice engaging respectfully and constructively, and build trust in others and institutions. As they compete for prizes, students strengthen their civics, writing, and public speaking skills, and form friendships with other young leaders along the way.

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