Wayne County Area Chamber Hosts National Civics Bee for the 3rd Year

​Richmond, IN – The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that it will host the Regional National Civics Bee for the first time, marking its third consecutive year participating in the program. The event will take place on April 10 at 6:00 PM at IU East’s Whitewater Hall with guest speaker, IU East Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Brian Thomas.

This year’s regional competition format was determined using finalists’ ZIP codes and a geo-location process to best position students across host sites. Wayne County is honored to serve as a regional host under this new structure.

The National Civics Bee offers students grades 6-8th a unique opportunity to showcase their knowledge of civics, history, and government while deepening their understanding of the role they play in shaping their communities and the nation. The Chamber is proud to provide a platform for these young scholars to demonstrate their commitment to civic engagement and to highlight the importance of being informed, active citizens.

The following 20 students, along with two alternates, have been selected to participate in the 2026 Regional National Civics Bee Competition (listed in no particular order):

Centerville Jr High School:
Lily Kaehr
Charlie Soper
David Worth Dennis Middle School:
Phoebe Duncan
Jeremai Avila-Gaytan
Candice Jasso
Hagerstown Jr/Sr High School:
Chloe Morris
Anistyn Stapleton
Karlee Koontz
James Bruce
Elliott Gray
Briella LaMar
Calin Ledgerwood
Heritage Hall Christian School:
Phoebe Stein
Eden Lobdell
Landynn Shields
Northeastern Wayne Schools:
Jeremiah Lawson
Tillie Crownover
Chloe Powell
Richmond Friends School:
Emily Meeker
Lexi Johnson
Alternates:
Addison Davis - Northeastern
Arianna Stevenson - Centerville

“We’re excited to once again host the National Civics Bee and recognize the outstanding students in our community who are passionate about learning how our government works,” said Shawntel Baker, Director of Employer Engagement at the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. “This event not only showcases their knowledge but also inspires young people to stay engaged and make a meaningful impact in their communities.”
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The event is free to attend and open to the public. Supporters, family members, and friends are encouraged to come out and cheer on the participants as they compete for the title of Regional National Civics Bee Champion.