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BUENA VISTA, Colorado – Middle school students from Buena Vista-area schools competed in the second annual 2024 National Civics Bee® regional competition on April 14. The event was hosted by the Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, the Daniels Fund and the Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Students competed with their peers in a live quiz event and answered questions from judges to test their civics knowledge. The top three finalists from the Buena Vista competition will have the chance to participate in the state-level competition hosted by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Kinder Morgan in Denver on May 17, 2024. The Colorado state champion will advance to the National Civics Bee® competition in Washington, D.C. held on November 12, 2024, to compete for the national title, as well as over $50,000 in prizes.
“We’re proud to work with our local chamber partners for the second consecutive year to promote active participation in government and democracy among young Coloradans,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “We’re also thrilled that the program is expanding to the national level this year, providing a platform for students across the U.S. to engage in civic education. Congratulations to this year’s regional finalists and we look forward to hosting them in Denver to compete for the state title!”
“We host the civics bee with our co-hosts, The League of Women Voters of Chaffee County, because we believe that an intergenerational civic dialogue is absolutely vital to a well-functioning society and must be cultivated,” said Buena Vista Chamber Executive Director Liz Morgan. “That is why I am so pleased to be able create a safe space to share ideas, be heard, be inspired and to think about next steps towards addressing the real needs of our community.”
“Active citizens serve as the bedrock of a healthy democracy, and it is vital that we impart these principles to the next generation,” said Daniels Fund President and CEO Hanna Skandera. “The Daniels Fund was thrilled to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to launch the National Civics Bee as a fun way for young people to become informed and engaged in our republic.”
Winners of the Buena Vista-area National Civics Bee® include:
- First place: Simon A., Darren Patterson Christian Academy
- Second place: Joseph D., Darren Patterson Christian Academy
- Third place: Andee Q., Buena Vista Middle School
The first-place winner of the local competition received a $500 cash prize and all three finalists are invited to participate in the statewide competition. The top three winners of the state competition will receive cash prizes of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.
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The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.
The Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce (BVCC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the business community. An accomplished Board of Directors guides the organization, with efforts carried out by a dedicated staff. BVCC is beginning to have member-driven committees that help to guide the Chamber’s goals and efforts.