Contact:
Casey Nickel
(515) 283-8180
cnickel@nyemaster.com
Iowa Chamber Alliance Participates in National Civics Bee
DES MOINES, Iowa (September 25, 2023) – On August 18th, the Iowa Chamber Alliance (ICA) hosted the first annual Iowa State Civics Bee Championship at the Iowa State Fair. ICA partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to bring the National Civics Bee initiative to Iowa. During the spring of 2023, both the Mason City and Council Bluffs Chambers of Commerce hosted local civics bees for 6-8th graders to compete for recognition and prize money. The top three finalists from each event went on to compete to be named the Iowa State Civics Bee Champion at the state fair.
During the state event, Congresswomen Mariannettee Miller-Meeks kicked off the event by congratulating the finalists and expressing the importance of civics education and engagement. Senator Chuck Grassley and Congressmen Randy Feenstra also provided pre-recorded remarks during the event.
Audience members were able to participate alongside the student competitors during the first two multiple questions rounds to test their own knowledge. The three students with the highest rounds following round 2 advanced on to the third round. During the third round they pitched a unique community project idea to a panel of judges. Seth Anderson, Director of the John C. Culver Center for Public Policy at Simpson College, Urbandale Mayor Bob Andeweg, and Scott Peters, Professor and Department Head of Political Science and the University of Northern Iowa served as the third round judges.
Mason City Finalists:
Madeline Cornish
Julia Hines
Allison Long
Council Bluffs Finalists:
Matilda Peterson
Maria Perez-Ramirez
Oliver Griner
Matilda Peterson finished in first place, winning $1,000 in prize money, followed by Julia Hines in second and Maria Perez-Ramirez in third. Second place received $500 and third place received $250 in prize money.
The third annual National Civics Bee will take place in 2024. Local school districts or 6th-8th graders interested in competing should reach out to their local chamber of commerce to find a regional event near them. Questions can also be directed to Casey Nickel (contact information above) with the Iowa Chamber Alliance.
About the Iowa Chamber Alliance
The Iowa Chamber Alliance (ICA) is a non-partisan coalition that advocates for economic growth policies and initiatives by representing leading Chambers of Commerce and economic development organizations across Iowa. The mission of the Iowa Chamber Alliance is to drive a policy agenda that grows the state on behalf of our more than 17,000 members that range from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies.
Iowa Chamber Alliance Members
- Ames Chamber of Commerce & Ames Economic Development Commission
- Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
- Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce
- Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Burlington Partnership
- Greater Des Moines Partnership
- Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance
- Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Grow Cedar Valley
- Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce
- Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce
- Mason City Chamber of Commerce
- North Iowa Corridor Economic
Development Corporation - Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress
- Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
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