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DENVER – The Colorado Chamber Foundation today announced the opening of essay submissions for the 2027 National Civics Bee, building on a historic year for Colorado after a local student claimed the 2026 national championship title earlier this month. The annual competition encourages middle school students to strengthen their civic knowledge, engage in their communities and develop the skills to become the next generation of civic leaders.
The Foundation is expanding the program’s reach across Colorado in 2027, as a record 10 regional partners will host competitions across the state. The expansion will create more opportunities for middle school students from communities across Colorado to participate and compete for a chance to represent the state at the national championship in Washington, D.C.
“Colorado made history in 2026 when one of our own students became the National Civics Bee champion, demonstrating the incredible talent and civic knowledge of our young people,” said Colorado Chamber Foundation Executive Director Rachel Beck. “We’re excited to build on that momentum by expanding the competition to more communities than ever before. The National Civics Bee is a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of informed, engaged citizens who will help shape the future of Colorado and our country.”
On October 14, 2026, Peter Daniell, a student at Stargate Charter School in Thornton, won the National Civics Bee Championship, earning the Bill Daniels National Civics Award and a $100,000 contribution to a 529 education savings plan. Daniell competed against 51 other finalists representing all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and American Samoa, becoming Colorado’s first national champion in the competition.
The 2027 competition offers students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades the opportunity to showcase their civic knowledge and share ideas for improving their communities. Students begin by submitting an essay proposing a solution to a problem facing their community. Selected students advance to regional competitions, where they participate in live quiz rounds and answer questions from judges to demonstrate their understanding of civics and government.
Regional competitions will take place in early 2027, with finalists advancing to the state-level competition hosted by the Colorado Chamber Foundation in Denver on Friday, June 4. Students will compete for recognition and cash prizes, including $1,000 for the first-place state winner. The Colorado state champion will advance to the National Civics Bee Championship in Washington, D.C., in fall 2027.
Regional partners for the 2027 National Civics Bee are as follows:
- Adams County Regional Economic Partnership
- Alamosa County Chamber Foundation Inc
- Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County (Durango)
- Carbondale Community Chamber of Commerce
- Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
- Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce (Falcon)
- Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce
- Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Kids At Their Best (Fort Morgan)
Organized in partnership with the Daniels Fund and the Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, with support from the Adolph Coors Foundation, the National Civics Bee inspires middle school students to become better informed about American democracy, engage respectfully and constructively in their communities, and build greater trust in others and institutions.
All students in Colorado can submit essays to any regional partner that is near them between now and February 2, 2027. Additional information about the competition, eligibility requirements and regional events is available at https://cochamber.com/foundation/civicsbee/.
For more information about the 2027 National Civics Bee, visit https://civics.uschamberfoundation.org/national-civics-bee.
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The Colorado Chamber Foundation is a nonprofit 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.