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Anoka County to help promote National Civics Bee for Minnesota middle‑schoolers
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Summary
County commissioners agreed to promote the National Civics Bee — a free, nonpartisan competition for 6th–8th graders with a national grand prize scholarship — and county leaders were asked to help share application details ahead of the Feb. 3 deadline.
Commissioner Meissner asked the board to help promote the National Civics Bee as it debuts this year in Minnesota. The competition, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and locally promoted by the Metro North Chamber of Commerce, invites sixth- through eighth-grade students to submit a short, four-question essay connecting an idea to a founding principle or civic virtue.
Lori Higgins, president of the Metro North Chamber, said the Bee began in 2022 and has expanded to 40 states; Minnesota participation will open this year. Higgins described the competition structure: regional rounds in a game‑show format, cash prizes at regionals (regional first place $500) and a national grand prize scholarship (described in the presentation as $100,000). The entry deadline in Minnesota is Tuesday, Feb. 3; entries are free and open to public, private and homeschooled students.
Commissioners asked whether the Bee is intended to be annual and what promotional help the chamber needs; Higgins asked for amplification through county networks and noted the chamber’s outreach to teachers and classrooms. The board encouraged county outreach to help students and schools apply.
No formal ordinance or funding commitment was recorded; the board’s action was promotional support and encouragement to spread the application information.
