Annual competition is designed to inspire the next generation of civic leaders

VANCOUVER  — The Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC) is excited to announce that it is now accepting essay submissions for the 2026 National Civics Bee®. Organized in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, this educational initiative invites middle school students in Southwest Washington to explore American democracy, deepen their understanding of civics, and compete for the chance to earn recognition and cash prizes.

Local 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are encouraged to participate in the first round of the competition by submitting a 500–750 word essay. The prompt challenges students to identify an opportunity or problem in their community and propose potential solutions, sparking thoughtful dialogue and inspiring young people to take an active role in shaping their future. Submissions will be accepted by Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., at VancouverUSA.com/Civics-Bee.

A panel of distinguished judges, composed of local business and community leaders, will review the essays. The top 20 students will advance to the final round: a live quiz event designed to test their civics knowledge in a dynamic and engaging format.

“Through the National Civics Bee®, students gain hands-on experience in civic engagement, learning how to make their voices heard and contribute to a stronger democracy,” said Janet Kenefsky, Chief Operating Officer at the Greater Vancouver Chamber. “This program perfectly reflects our mission to support a community of informed, engaged, and active future leaders who will shape our workforce and economy.”

The live quiz event will take place on Monday, April 20, 2026. The top three winners from the local competition will advance to the state-level competition, where they’ll have the opportunity to compete for further honors.

In addition to the invaluable recognition, the local winners will be awarded cash prizes: $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $125 for third place. 

New this year, the National Civics Bee® is introducing additional incentives to further reward student achievement and school engagement. If the local winner advances to the state competition and wins, their school could have the chance to receive a $5,000 donation. State champions will also earn a paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Civics Bee® Championship in Fall 2026.

For more information on the essay topic, submission guidelines, and competition rules, as well as access to teacher and parent guides, please visit www.vancouverusa.com/civics-bee.

Business leaders interested in sponsoring this program are encouraged to contact the Greater Vancouver Chamber at Partnerships@VancouverUSA.com.

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 more than 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, visit VancouverUSA.com.