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DENVER – The Colorado Chamber of Commerce Foundation today hosted the 2026 National Civics Bee Colorado State Finals presented by Kinder Morgan in partnership with the Daniels Fund, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and El Pomar Foundation. The competition aims to 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.
26 middle school students from across the state demonstrated their civics comprehension for a chance to win recognition, cash prizes and the opportunity to advance to the National Civics Bee competition in Washington, D.C. Students participated in a live quiz event and answered questions from judges to test their civic knowledge.
“The National Civics Bee is an inspiring reminder that civic leadership starts early,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “These students have shown an impressive understanding of how our government works and how thoughtful participation can make a real difference in our communities. We are proud to recognize this year’s finalists and congratulate Peter Daniell on advancing to represent Colorado at the national competition.”
“The growth of the National Civics Bee in Colorado reflects the strong commitment of our regional partners and local communities to expanding civic education across the state,” said Colorado Chamber Foundation Executive Director Rachel Beck. “This year’s state finals brought together students from more regions than ever before as the program continues to expand its reach and create meaningful opportunities for civic learning. We’re grateful to the partners, sponsors, judges and educators who helped make this competition possible, and we wish Peter the best of luck representing our state on the national stage.”
“The National Civics Bee proves that when we give young people the opportunity to learn about our country and tackle real challenges in their own communities, they rise to the occasion,” said Hanna Skandera Grady, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund, founding partner of the National Civics Bee. “At a time when 80 percent of Americans say they want more civics education in our schools, these Colorado students remind us why. They aren’t just learning how our republic works. They’re preparing to strengthen it.”
Winners of the 2026 National Civics Bee Colorado State Finals include:
- First place: Peter Daniell, Stargate Charter School, Broomfield
- Second place: Alexandra Yao, Kent Denver
- Third place: Archer Knickerbocker-Peyton, Kent Denver School
The judges for the event included Caroline Woodhouse with Kinder Morgan, Robert Kenney with Xcel Energy Colorado, Chad Calvert with Chevron Corporation, Carrie Tynan with the Adolph Coors Foundation and Beverly Razon with Copic. The event was emceed by Kyle Clark with 9News, and Congressman Joe Neguse delivered the keynote address.
All participants in the state competition received a tablet device as a prize from the Colorado Chamber Foundation and technology sponsor Chevron Corporation. The top three winners of the state competition received cash prizes of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.
The Colorado state champion will advance to the National Civics Bee Championship in Washington, D.C. held October 13-14, to compete for the national title. Prizes at the National Championship include $100,000 for the first place winner, $25,000 for second place and $15,000 for third place. This year’s program expanded to include nine regional partners across Colorado, marking the highest level of regional participation in the program’s history to date. The National Civics Bee program is the largest to date, including all 50 states, D.C. and American Samoa.
The competition will be broadcast Saturday, July 25, at 7 p.m. MDT on KTVD and available for streaming for free on the 9News app.
The following photos are available for media use (click for larger image file):
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The Colorado Chamber Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation whose purpose is to support programs, research, educational opportunities and other initiatives that encourage and enhance a healthy business climate. The organization works collaboratively in partnership with state business leaders to advance Colorado’s economy and local communities through forward-thinking solutions.