What’s happened: The Michigan Chamber Foundation hosted the state’s 2nd annual statewide National Civics Bee this week at the State Capitol in Lansing.
- 21 middle school finalists representing 10 schools across Michigan – from Gaylord to Warren – showcased their civics knowledge through live quiz rounds, followed by a final round of the top 5 finishers presenting their ideas to judges on policy solutions to make their communities better.
Why it matters: Civic education is essential to a strong democracy, but too many Americans lack core knowledge on this front.
- More than 70% of us fail a basic quiz on topics like naming the three branches of government, the number of U.S. Supreme Court justices or landmark cases, or other basic functions of our democracy.
- This competition builds the next generation of informed, engaged leaders – starting in middle school.
And the winner was: Ashley from Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor – heading to Washington, D.C. this fall to represent Michigan in the National Civics Bee Finals and the chance to earn a $100,000 education savings plan.
- Congratulations to all 21 finalists who brought energy, insight and civility to the stage and the over 700 students who participated and made Michigan the top state for essay submissions!
Special thanks to all who made this event possible – the students, families, educators and school leaders; our sponsors: McCall Hamilton, BRD Printing, Amazon, Foley & Lardner LLP, Deb Muchmore Consulting, and Spence Bros.; our emcee: Michigan Public’s Zoe Clark; our judges: George Cook from GM, Jenell Leonard from MRG and Mel Trombley from The Christman Company; plus seven chamber partners that hosted local bees.
What’s next: As students head back to school later this summer, we’re already looking ahead to next year’s Civics Bee – timed to honor America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
- Help us spread the word to Michigan 6th, 7th and 8th graders – because understanding our nation’s founding principles is key to preserving its future.
- Stay tuned for 2026 updates at michamber.com/micivicsbee.