Colorado student wins top prize at National Civics Bee Championship

WASHINGTON — Peter Daniell of Broomfield, Colorado, took home the grand prize Wednesday night after winning the National Civics Bee Championship in the nation’s capital. 

Daniell, a ninth-grader, was one of 52 students from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and American Samoa who put their civics knowledge to the test at the third annual nonpartisan civics championship presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Hosted by actor and game show host Jerry O’Connell, C-SPAN televised the event for the first time ever, where civics — a branch of social studies centered on rights and obligations of citizenship — came to the forefront for middle school students from across the country. 

Daniell won a $100,000 529 education savings plan, as well as the Bill Daniels National Civics Award.

The 52 students had advanced in earlier state and local competitions. The students first submitted essays on “how they would improve their communities through civics.” Daniell’s essay centered on food insecurity and explored “ways communities can work together to support individuals and families facing hunger.”

Araoluwakiitan Afolabi of St. Cloud, Florida, scored second place, winning a $25,000 cash prize. Carolyn Taylor of Ann Arbor, Michigan, won third place, with a $15,000 cash prize.