The Worcester County Chamber of Commerce in Ocean Pines is hosting its first National Civics Bee for middle school students in conjunction with the Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Stephen Decatur Middle Schools students are pictured walking into school on the first day of the 2023-24 academic year
Photo courtesy Worcester County Public Schools
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
The Worcester County Chamber of Commerce in Ocean Pines is hosting its first National Civics Bee for middle school students in conjunction with the Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students from public, private and charter schools, as well as homeschool groups, are encouraged to participate. Worcester County Chamber of Commerce President Kerrie Bunting said the sole requirement is that contestants be enrolled in middle school and residents of the State of Maryland.
The Civics Bee is divided into segments that students must qualify for to proceed. The first portion, open to everyone, will include a civics essay contest. A panel of judges will select the top 20 entries to advance to a local in-person competition, where the young learners will be subjected to two rounds of civics inquiries followed by a questions-and-answers sequence.
The essay will be judged by individuals selected by the Worcester County Chamber of Commerce in Ocean Pines. The organization will also host the live regional event.
The top three students from the local challenge will move to the state-level contest. The first-place winner of that match will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national championship for prizes worth approximately $50,000.
“Hosting this event is important because it’s an election year, and everyone is bombarded by political issues,” Bunting said. “At the middle school level, it is important for them to know civics-related knowledge so they can be educated and thoughtful voters and leaders in the future…they need the foundation of government and civics…the contest could even kickstart a potential career path for some of these kids.”
The U.S. Chamber has provided a prompt that must be followed in the initial essay. Students are to identify a problem or challenge in their community and determine how they can contribute to its improvement. The juvenile writers must also include examples of organizations or individuals to work with, their roles in the solution, how their remedy incorporates founding principles, like equality and the consent of the governed, and civic virtues, such as humility, integrity, and respect.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched the Civics Bee in 2022. The organization partners with state-level chambers, which communicate with the local chambers and then advertise the event to public, private, and homeschooled students. Allegany, Baltimore, Greater Crofton, Frederick, and St. Mary’s counties are the other participating Maryland areas. The Worcester County Chamber of Commerce in Ocean Pines is the first Eastern Shore group to get involved.
Students from any part of the state, including Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, Montgomery, or Harford counties, can submit an essay to be considered by the Worcester County chamber.
“Any kid can join any chamber,” Bunting said.
The local in-person competition is slated for spring 2025, the state contest will occur in June 2025, and the national championship is set for fall 2025. While the first-round essay has yet to be given a concrete due date, Bunting said the U.S. chamber mandates it be judged sometime in the winter to allow ample preparation for the live regional match. The Worcester County organization’s website will post timeline updates and more information as they are provided.
Bunting added that the chamber is actively seeking judgesor the essay segment. The organization hopes to secure a diverse panel of individuals with expertise in writing, social studies, history, and government, such as elected officials and educators. The group’s president also noted that she is interested in reaching out to businesses and local civic bodies like the American Legion so they may help promote and sponsor the event.
Anyone interested in providing their services in any aspect may contact the Worcester County Chamber of Commerce in Ocean Pines at 410-641-5306 or Bunting at kerrie@worcestercountychamber.org.
Local leaders like Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38) and Delegate Wayne Hartman (R-38C) have endorsed the Worcester County Chamber of Commerce’s involvement in the Civics Bee.
“This type of competition is a great way to promote civic participation and create enthusiasm for our youth,” Hartman said in a letter asking the Worcester County Board of Education for their support. “I am looking forward to the introduction of the National Civics Bee on the Eastern Shore.”
Bunting emphasized that every sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade student in Maryland is eligible to enter the Civics Bee. Eastern Shore facilities such as Worcester County Public Schools, Worcester Preparatory School, and Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School have announced their participation. Finalized essays are to be turned in to the contest’s point person at each of these learning institutions or as stated by their administration.
Middle schoolers in the area who are homeschooled or whose school is not outwardly encouraging the competition may still enter. These families should contact the Worcester County chamber to receive the necessary information and submit their papers directly to the organization.
The Worcester County chamber hopes that surrounding school districts will jump onboard and advertise the civics contest to their students.
“We need to get kids involved because there is so much voter apathy going on,” Bunting said. “How do we convince people that their vote does matter? We teach them at a young age. Teach them to vote and be thoughtful about it and who you feel is best. It is especially important because the political landscape is so crazy now.”
The Worcester County Chamber of Commerce in Ocean Pines intends to make its involvement in the Civics Bee an annual occurrence. Information on deadlines and other details will be updated on the organization’s official website as they are decided.