The Chase Center is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host a regional Ohio civics competition, with finalists invited to the National Civics Bee competition in Washington, D.C., in the Fall of 2026. The Chase Center's event is made possible thanks to sponsorship from the Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce.
According to The Civic Trust by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, students in this nonpartisan competition "gain knowledge about American democracy, practice engaging respectfully and constructively, and build trust in others and institutions. As they compete for prizes, students strengthen their civics, writing, and public speaking skills, and form friendships with other young leaders along the way. The top three winners earn cash prizes and are invited to participate in the state finals competition."
Click here to apply by 4:59 a.m. Feb. 4, 2026.
Who can compete?
Ohio students in grades 6-8 may apply. Students from public, private, charter, and homeschools are all eligible. There is no cost for students to participate in the National Civics Bee.
How to Apply
Write a four-paragraph essay proposing your ideas for improving your community. See the 2026 Essay Application Guide to find this year’s official prompt, judging rubric, writing tips, and submission instructions. Also, be sure to also read the contest rules.
About the Columbus-area regional competition
Essays submitted by 4:59 a.m. February 4, 2026, will be evaluated by a national pool of judges using a standardized rubric. The top 20 finalists will be invited to the regional competition in Columbus and have 10 days to confirm their participation. The regional competition will be Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in the Performance Hall of the Ohio Union on The Ohio State University’s campus. Finalists and their families should plan to arrive by 6:30 p.m., and the competition will begin at 7 p.m.
During the regional competition, the 20 finalists compete by answering two rounds of civics-based questions. All 20 students answer the same multiple-choice questions (10 questions in each round) and earn one point for each correct answer. Students will answer these questions on a tablet using The Quiz Platform, which automatically allots the time to answer each question and tracks the scores during the first two rounds.
The five finalists with the highest scores at the end of Round 2 will advance to Round 3, where students share three-sentence summaries of their essays. A panel of judges will ask each student follow-up questions and evaluate their answers using a rubric. Scores from Round 3 are added to scores from Rounds 1 and 2. The students with the highest cumulative scores are the first-, second-, and third-place regional winners and are invited to participate in the state finals.
Who runs the National Civics Bee?
Organized by The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the National Civics Bee® is an annual nonpartisan civics competition for middle schoolers that increases civics knowledge, skills, and disposition among young Americans, their families, and communities.
The Chamber Foundation partners with chambers of commerce across the country to host local and state bees. Study guides, quizzes, and support materials are produced in collaboration with the Bill of Rights Institute.
The competition is made possible with the generous support of The Daniels Fund, Citizen Travelers, the Wilson Garling Foundation, and other sponsors.
Resources
- Essay contest rules
- Privacy policy
- Student flier
- Educator toolkit
- Essay application portal link
- Essay application guide
- National Civics Bee website
Hilliard Chamber of Commerce