Students: Submit your essays by March 29!
The Maryland Chamber Foundation is honored to be one of six local and state chambers to host the first pilot National Civics Bee competitions in May 2022. The National Civics Bee pilot is the civics literacy program of The Civic Trust, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation initiative to promote greater civic knowledge and civic participation across the country. Learn more from our official press release.
How it works
The National Civics Bee is an annual competition that encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. In the first round of the contest, local middle school students will participate in an essay competition. Judges will then select 10 finalists to participate in the final round: a live quiz event testing civics knowledge.
The competition is open to any Maryland middle school students (grades 6-8) in any school – public, private, charter, virtual or home-based.
Round 1: February 22 – March 29, 2022
- Complete the online submission form, including contact information for your parent or guardian, and upload (preferred method) or mail your 500-word essay.
- A panel of judges will grade the essays and select 10 finalists.
Round 2: May 7, 2022
- The 10 student finalists will compete in a live quiz event on Saturday, May 7th at Bowie State University for a chance to win fantastic prizes!
Prizes include:
- First place: $1,000 cash + a laptop + a trophy
- Second place: $500 cash + a laptop + a trophy
- Third place: $250 cash + a laptop + a trophy
- All 10 finalists will receive a laptop!
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor:
ESSAY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
ESSAY TOPIC:
Identify a problem facing your community. How might a citizen solve the problem? Write a 500-word essay, two pages, double-spaced, that includes the following:
- What is the problem, and how do different members in your community or neighborhood view it?
- What civic principles or systems could help to address the problem?
- What is your idea or recommendation for solving the problem?
- What primary sources, such as the Declaration of Independence or the United States Constitution, provide supporting evidence or examples for your idea or recommendation?
- How might members of your community or neighborhood bring your idea or recommendation to life?
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Your essay will be evaluated based on how well you:
- Demonstrate an understanding of civics
- Acknowledge and address opposing points of view
SUBMITTING YOUR ESSAY:
We recommend that you type your essay in a separate document, prior to entering your information and essay on the submission page.
Please review all rules and eligibility requirements before submitting.
Alternately, you can print the form on the submission page along with your essay, and mail them to this address: The Maryland Chamber Foundation, ATTN: Civics Bee, 100 West St, Suite 100, Annapolis, MD 21401.
All essays must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on March 29, 2022 to be considered. Finalists will be notified by the Maryland Chamber of Foundation in early April via email.
Please email foundation@mdchamber.org with any questions.
TEACHER RESOURCES
Download and print a National Civics Bee poster to hang in your classroom or on school bulletin boards.
Want to incorporate the National Civics Bee competition into your class curriculum? Download suggested lesson plans around this topic from iCivics.
WHIS IS CIVICS IMPORTANT?
We are hosting the Civics Bee because we recognize that a healthy democracy relies on citizens who are well informed about their history, government and public issues and who are motivated to engage constructively in shaping the vibrancy of public life in their communities, their states and their nation. The business community our Chamber represents understands it has an enormous stake – as well as a unique and potentially effective role to play – in strengthening American civic life.
Read more about why civics education matters in our blog: “Boosting civics education is critical for a healthy, stable economy”
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The Maryland Chamber Foundation is a designated 501(c)(3) and supports sustainable solutions that drive Maryland’s future economy including talent, education, innovation, economic diversity, infrastructure, business climate, governance, and quality of life.
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For more information on the Maryland Chamber Foundation, contact Executive Director Whitney Harmel at wharmel@mdchamber.org or call 410-269-0642, ext. 1117.
