WILLIAMSBURG— The Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce hosted the regional competition for this year’s National Civics Bee on March 25 at Jamestown Settlement.
The event was presented by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and made possible through a partnership between the GWCC, the National Civics Trust, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
According to GWCC, the competition encourages middle school students to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. To qualify, students submitted essays addressing civic issues important to them. The GWCC says they received submissions from students across the region.
After an initial round of essay judging, 20 finalists were selected to take part in the Regional Civics Bee.
The Civics Bee consisted of three rounds. The first two rounds were multiple-choice, with the top five students advancing to the final round. Participants used tablets provided by Technology Sponsor Cox Communications, which students were able to take home to support their continued learning.
The final round featured a Q&A session with judges, Vice Chair of the James City Board of Supervisors Ruth Larson, City of Williamsburg Vice Mayor Pat Dent & York County Board of Supervisors Chairman Douglas Holroyd.
Questions were based on the finalists’ essays, which focused on civic issues they are passionate about addressing in their communities. Following the final round, judges deliberated while attendees enjoyed an incredible musical performance by a saxophone quartet from the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra.
Each of the top three finishers advanced to the state-level competition, hosted on July 24 by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. There, students from across Virginia will compete for larger prizes, with the first-place winner receiving a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to represent the Commonwealth at the national competition later this year in Washington, D.C.
