The Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) proudly announces the launch of the 2025 National Civics Bee®, an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Hosted in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and sponsored by Teesdale Law, the competition in Brookings will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions.

Kelsey Doom, BACC President & CEO says, "It’s crucial to address the challenges we face in fostering civic engagement among (young) Americans. It was disheartening to find a recent study stated 61% of young people would choose to give up their right to vote over social media—this just underscores the importance of initiatives like the Civics Bee. By engaging middle school students in meaningful conversations about democracy, we aim to inspire a future generation that values civic participation. We want them to understand the importance of being part of a community and making their voice heard."

“We're proud to support the Chamber’s National Civics Bee® initiative,” says Tony Teesdale, attorney and owner of Teesdale Law. “We believe in investing in the next generation and encouraging young people to engage with their communities. This competition is a great way to spark their interest in civic responsibility and leadership."

Middle school students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from public, private, charter, and home schools are invited to take part in the first-round civics essay competition, which will open in October; essays will be due February 4, 2025. After a local panel of judges review the essays, the top 20 students will be selected to advance to their local competition: an in-person live event featuring two rounds of civics questions followed by a Q&A round to test their civics knowledge. The BACC will host its local competition in the spring of 2025. The local finalists and top winners will receive various prizes, including prizes worth at least $500 for the first-place student.

Winners from each of the local competitions across South Dakota will be invited to take part in the state finals. The first-place winner of the state finals will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for prizes worth at least $50,000 during the national championship in the Fall of 2025.

"As someone who’s spent years serving this community, I believe this program is a great way to encourage our youth to take an active role in shaping their future,” says Larry Tidemann, long-time resident and former South Dakota legislator. “It's about showing them that their voices matter and that civic engagement is more than just a duty—it's a vital part of building a stronger, more connected community."