Hagerstown, Northeastern and Richmond school districts will be represented in a local civics bee that yielded last year’s state champion.
For the second consecutive year, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing the local competition for the National Civics Bee.
It will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Indiana University East’s Whitewater Hall, 2325 Chester Blvd., Richmond.
Admission is free. Program supporters, family members and friends are encouraged to cheer on the participants.
Contestants will showcase their knowledge of civics, history and government, and learn more about the importance of being informed and active citizens.
These participants were chosen based on their essays:
- Hagerstown Jr. High School: Addison Schubert, Grace Mohr, Aaliyah Haskett, Colton Callahan, Lydia Herr, Elliott Gray, Honesti Arrington, Bella Mitchell, Cora Hokey, Layla Brown, Madyx Jarrett, Caden Nolan
- Hibberd Program Building (Richmond Community Schools): Josephine Wessel-McCoy, Taytem Rivera
- Northeastern Middle School: Brielle Moody, Addison Schubert, Molly Wissel, Hadley Nutty, Fiona Breitenbach, Hayden Goble
- Alternates: Lauren Boyce, NMS; Catarina Bailey, HJHS
Shawntel Baker, WCACC director of membership and education, said the bee will celebrate “incredible students who are dedicated to learning about our nation’s government and history.”
“This event not only highlights the importance of civic knowledge but also encourages the next generation to be actively engaged in our community,” Baker said.
Wayne County’s 2024 winner, Ellie Fost, placed first in Indianapolis, earning the opportunity to compete in Washington, D.C. She entered as a Richmond Friends School student and was a Richmond High School freshman during the November nationals. Ellie earned $1,000 for her state championship and $500 at Wayne County’s contest.
The National Civics Bee, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Civic Trust, aims to improve civics education and literacy among middle school students, their families and communities.
Financial support comes from the event’s founding partner, the Daniels Fund, and additional contributors. Local sponsors include Blue Buffalo, IU East, Merchants Bank of Indiana, Cochran & Associates and Transcendia Inc.
A version of this article appeared in the April 9 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.