Young Leaders Shine At Southwest Washington’s National Civics Bee (Photo) -04/30/25
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2025
YOUNG LEADERS SHINE AT SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON'S NATIONAL CIVICS BEE
A Shahala Middle School student claimed first place in the competition, hosted by the Greater Vancouver Chamber on April 26.
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Seventeen talented middle school students recently competed for the title of Southwest Washington's Civics Bee Champion during the state qualifying round, hosted by the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC) in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Washington Trust Bank.
Held on April 26 at Vancouver’s historic Kiggins Theatre, the high-energy event showcased finalists representing Battle Ground, Camas, Evergreen, Hockinson, and Vancouver school districts, along with homeschool and private school programs. After an intense competition, Shreya Andey of Shahala Middle School emerged with the first place, earning the title of Southwest Washington Civics Bee Champion and a $500 cash prize.
Modeled after traditional academic bees, the competition challenged students with a wide range of questions on U.S. government, history, politics, and constitutional law. Audience members joined the excitement through an interactive, real-time trivia game from their smartphones, creating an engaging experience for all.
Following the first two 10-question rounds, the top five scorers advanced to a live interview segment, presenting their community improvement essays and answering questions from a distinguished panel of judges: Dr. Christine Moloney, Superintendent of Evergreen School District; Dr. John Anzalone, Superintendent of Camas School District; and Denny Waters, Superintendent of Battle Ground School District. Students addressed real-world issues such as pollution prevention, railroad safety, access to educational resources, and responsible gambling, demonstrating impressive critical thinking and leadership.
Rye Dilley of Tukes Valley Middle School captured second place, winning a $250 prize, and Calista Christiansen earned third, receiving $125.
“This is an amazing event! It gets kids excited about being part of their communities, the things they can do, and the power they have to make things better—not just for themselves, but for their families and communities,” said Dr. Christine Moloney.
Next Stop: Statewide Competition in Olympia
The top three Southwest Washington finalists will advance to the Washington State Civics Bee Finals, presented by the Association of Washington Business, on June 21 at Olympia High School. The state champion will earn a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Civics Bee® championship this fall. Learn more at https://www.awbinstitute.org/project/national-civics-bee/.
Investing in Future Leaders
The National Civics Bee reflects the Greater Vancouver Chamber’s commitment to building informed, engaged citizens who will strengthen our economy and workforce.
“For the Chamber, it’s important to ensure that our future workforce is prepared to think critically, solve problems, and lead,” said Janet Kenefsky, chief operating officer for the Chamber. “With 70% of Americans unable to pass a civic literacy test, the need for informed, engaged citizens is clear. They are essential to the strength of our country, the stability of our economy, and the success of our business community.”
“Everything we do at the Chamber is focused on supporting business growth,” Kenefsky added. “When we invest in young people today, we’re helping build the entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators of tomorrow.”
The 2025 National Civics Bee in Southwest Washington was presented by Washington Trust Bank, with additional support from Restoration 1 of Vancouver, Greenhaven Landscapes, and The Columbian.
For more information about the National Civics Bee, visit VancouverUSA.com/nationalcivicsbee. Business leaders interested in sponsoring the 2026 event can contact the Chamber at YourChamber@VancouverUSA.com.
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About the National Civics Bee
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 participate in an essay competition. Judges will then select 20 finalists to participate in our local competition: a live quiz event testing civics knowledge. The top three students from each local competition will advance to the state competition. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, this competition was launched to tackle the lack of knowledge about history and civics among middle school students, exposed by new federal data on the Nation's Report Card. In 2022, the average civics score at eighth grade decreased by 2 points compared to 2018.
About the Greater Vancouver Chamber
SW Washington’s largest business organization, the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), with nearly 1000 members, has been Moving Business Forward in southwest Washington for over 135 years through business advocacy, community building, education, and creating visibility for our members. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals, and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. The GVC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate and prosperity for all. For more information, please visit VancouverUSA.com.
Media Assets:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EE7VkkOrlfARQa-jUsEPbIKl2QXTk7-a
Official Program Link:
National Civics Bee
Washington State Civics Bee Competition:
https://www.awbinstitute.org/project/national-civics-bee/
Nation’s Report Card:
NAEP Report Card: 2022 NAEP Civics Assessment
