The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce announced on October 25 the launch of the 2025 National Civics Bee®, an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. This will be the second year that the Chamber has staged the competition. Hosted in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the local competition “will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions,” said Stacy Jacobs, vice president of business development for the chamber.

Middle school students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades from public, private, charter, and home schools are invited to take part in the first-round civics essay competition, Jacobs said. After a distinguished panel of judges review the essays, the top 20 students will be selected to advance to their local competition: an in-person live event featuring two rounds of civics questions followed by a Q&A round to test their civics knowledge.

The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will host its local competition in the spring of 2025 at a venue to be announced. The local finalists and top winners will receive various prizes, including prizes worth at least $500 for the first-place student.

In the 2024 competition local resident Roshni Karunamurthy, a student at Tays Junior High School in Katy, advanced to the state competition where she captured second place.

Participants in the National Civics Bee® will have the chance to gain recognition for their civics knowledge and skills and compete for prestigious prizes throughout the competition. The competition enables students to explore issues that matter to their communities, furthering their understanding of civic engagement and fostering responsible citizenship. Winners from each of the local competitions across Texas will be invited to take part in the state finals. The first-place winner of the state finals will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for prizes worth at least $50,000 during the national championship in the Fall of 2025.

“Fostering a deep understanding of civics and government among our young students is critical to the vibrancy of democracy and civic life in America. The National Civics Bee® provides a unique platform for them to not only showcase their knowledge but also become active and engaged citizens of the future,” said Hilary Crow, vice president of civics at the U.S. Chamber Foundation.

For more information on entering the National Civics Bee® in Katy, visit: katychamber.com/national-civics-bee.