Monticello middle schoolers claim four of top five spots at regional competition
By Lauren Flaum, Monticello Times
Middle school students compete in the regional National Civics Bee on Saturday, March 21, at Monticello Middle School, answering questions on government, history, and civic engagement.
First-place winner, Mariah J. of Salk Middle School in Elk River, poses with her award alongside Monticello Mayor Lloyd Hilgart following the National Civics Bee regional competition on March 21 in Monticello. At right is Monticello Middle School student Tyler F., who placed third.
MONTICELLO — Under bright stage lights and patriotic rows of red, white and blue bunting, middle school students leaned over tablets, heads down in deep concentration, as they worked through rapid-fire questions about government and civic life.
By the end of Saturday afternoon, Monticello students had made a strong showing at the regional National Civics Bee, claiming four of the top five spots in the competition.
Mariah J., an eighth grader from Salk Middle School in Elk River, earned first place, followed by Monticello Middle School student Henry S. in second and Tyler F. in third. Molly H. placed fourth, while Teo T. rounded out the top five
In total, 17 of the 20 finalists were Monticello Middle School students, reflecting the school’s high level of participation in the program.
Nearly 900 Monticello Middle School students were assigned the civic engagement essay as part of their coursework, with more than 125 choosing to submit their work.
Hosted in the auditorium at Monticello Middle School by the Monticello Chamber of Commerce & Industry in partnership with the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce, the event brought together sixth- through eighth-grade students selected through a regional essay contest.
The path to the stage began weeks earlier with an essay component, in which students identified a problem in their community and proposed a civic solution using government or civic processes. Submissions were evaluated on students’ understanding of civics, their ability to consider different perspectives and the strength of their proposed ideas.
The top 20 advanced to Saturday’s live competition, which featured two rounds of civics questions — similar to a spelling bee-style quiz — followed by a final round featuring the top five students.
Students were also tested on core civics concepts, including federalism, constitutional powers and key moments in U.S. history, with questions such as identifying the significance of the Magna Carta and which branch of government has the authority to receive foreign ambassadors.
While the topics were serious, the atmosphere wasn’t without a sense of fun. Local business owner Leah Gardner of Queen Bee’s Gardens & Floral appeared on stage in a bee costume to help collect answers during the quiz rounds — a fitting presence for a “Civics Bee.”
Students tackle real-world issues
The competition culminated in a final round, where the top five students presented their proposed solutions to community issues and answered questions from judges.
Mariah’s winning proposal focused on improving access to and awareness of public transportation.
“I want to ensure this is something that is truly wanted throughout my community,” Mariah said.
Second-place finisher Henry proposed a system to donate unused school food to local organizations.
“It’s hard to get middle schoolers to care,” Henry said.
Third-place winner Tyler presented ideas to reduce school waste through recycling and composting efforts.
“It only takes one person to take action — which can start a chain reaction,” Tyler said during the final round.
Molly, who lives near a proposed data center site, spoke about concerns related to the project and emphasized the role of civic engagement in shaping community decisions.
She said she believes the proposed data center would be “more detrimental” to the community than beneficial.
The event was emceed by Liz Calpas, with Monticello Mayor Lloyd Hilgart serving as honorary emcee. Monticello Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Deb Meyer helped lead the effort to bring the competition to the community.
“I’m proud of the students who competed and the community support behind this event,” Mayor Hilgart said.
Judges included Christine Martin of Conroy Law Office, Greg Schultz of National Bank of Commerce, financial advisor Josh Otto of Regal Creek Wealth Management, Dexter Hanson of Central Minnesota Mental Health Center, and Amy Walz, founder of the nonprofit You’re Not Alone.
The top three finishers will advance to the Minnesota state competition June 14 in St. Paul, with the state champion moving on to the national championship in Washington, D.C. They also received trophies and cash prizes ranging from $125 to $500.
The National Civics Bee is organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation through its Civic Trust initiative and aims to encourage civic knowledge and engagement among middle school students.
To watch a recording of Saturday’s regional Civics Bee final, visit https://shorturl.at/s3XVo.
