Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce Announces Winner of Local Civics Bee

​Richmond, IN — April 10, 2026 — On Friday, April 10, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted the regional round of the National Civics Bee® for the third year in a row. The event, held at Whitewater Hall on the campus of Indiana University East, brought together 20 middle school students and two alternates to showcase their civic knowledge and leadership ideas. This year’s event was emceed by Rick Duncan of Duncan Media.

“We are proud to host the National Civics Bee and celebrate the incredible students in our community who are passionate about civic engagement,” said Melissa Vance, President/CEO of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. “This event not only highlights the importance of understanding our government but also empowers the next generation to take an active role in shaping the future of Wayne County.”

Students competed in two fast-paced rounds of multiple-choice questions testing their understanding of civics, government, and community issues. The top five scorers advanced to the final Q&A round, where they presented the topics, they had explored in their submitted essays. This year's finalists were:

• Arianna Stevenson
• Elliot Gray
• Calin Ledgerwood
• Emily Meeker
• Candice Jasso

Each finalist shared a brief overview of their essay topics covering issues from clothing insecurity to nature preservation and explained how their chosen problems and proposed solutions connect to the broader definition of civic responsibility. Following their presentations, the judges — Mayor Ron Oler, County Commissioner Jeff Plasterer, and County Council member Cathy Williams — asked thoughtful questions to each student before making their final decision.

After a close competition, the top three students moving on to the Indiana State Civics Bee on June23, 2026 in Indianapolis are:

• 1st Place – Arianna Stevenston, abandoned homes
• 2nd Place – Calin Ledgerwood, stopping abortion
• 3rd Place – Emily Meeker, clothing insecurity

Arianna Stevenson was named the overall winner of the Wayne County Civics Bee after excelling in both the quiz rounds and the essay presentation. Arianna spoke on the importance of revitalizing abandoned homes and the need for proper maintenance. As part of her first-place award, Arianna will also have the unique opportunity to serve as "Mayor for the Day" in the City of Richmond.

“I’m always inspired by the passion these students bring to understanding how our government works,” said Mayor Ron Oler. “Welcoming the winner as ‘Mayor for the Day’ is a special opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world experience and show how they can make a difference right here in Richmond.”
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The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce extends sincere congratulations to all participants and finalists, and thanks to the judges, families, and community partners who helped make this event a success.
Thank you to the 2026 Local Civics Bee Sponsors:
Red
101.7 the Point
DOT Foods
Merchants Bank
White
Earlham College
Primex Plastics
Blue
Centerstone
Cochran & Associates
IU East
Reid Health
 
 
 
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