Wayne County Student Wins National Civics Bee State Championship

​Indianapolis, Indiana – On Friday, August 23, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce sent three students—Ellie Fost, Sadie Penrod, and Marisol Colaj—to participate in the 2024 state championship of the National Civics Bee at the Indiana Statehouse. The National Civics Bee, organized in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, aims to foster civic engagement among young Americans and encourage their active contribution to our communities and nation.
 
The state competition was hosted by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana Department of education. It featured 20 students representing their respective counties and Chambers and comprised two segments: a live quiz event followed by a presentation of their essays and a Q&A session with the judges. The judging panel for the state Civics Bee included Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education; Charles Dunlap, President and CEO of the Indiana Bar Foundation; and Charles Hyde, President and CEO of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site.
 
“In an era of high-tension politics, it is valuable to show students how to engage in their community in a positive way,” said Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Melissa Vance. “These middle-schoolers identified challenges and shared their ideas for potential solutions. Hopefully, they will put the skills they learn through this process into use right here in our community both now and in their adult years.”
 
Only the top five students were selected to present their essay pitches. Among these finalists was Ellie Fost, representing the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce and Richmond High School. Entering the speech segment in second place after a strong performance in the quiz portion, Ellie captivated the judges with her insightful and articulate pitch on Mental Health Awareness in Teens and Schools.
 
Ellie’s impressive pitch earned her first place in the state championship, along with a $1,000 cash prize. The state champion, Ellie Fost, had a few words about her win on Friday, “It means a lot for me to win, and it’s a big achievement. I think it’s a step in the right direction for getting the resources to kids and schools that they need. I’m proud of myself for winning, but I’m more proud about being able to spread awareness for mental health.”
 
As the Indiana State Champion, Ellie will advance to the inaugural National Civics Bee national championship in Washington, D.C. in November 2024, where she will have the opportunity to compete for prizes totaling over $50,000.