Ten college finalists from Commonwealth counties competed for cash prizes ranging from $250 to $1,000 at the inaugural Kentucky Civics Bee.

Lucas Campbell of Simons Middle School in Fleming County was named the winner of the competition, with Jiwoo Kim of Model Laboratory School in Madison County placing second and Charleston Girdler of Somerset Christian School in Pulaski County placing third.

Finalists included Brandon Geary of Hebron Middle School in Boone CountyCharlotte Iranpour from Scott County Middle School, Evelyn Johnson from Jessamine County VLA, Hannah Moore from Muhlenberg South Middle School, Hayden Daniel from Muhlenberg South Middle School, Sable Sublett from Muhlenberg South Middle School, and Viviann Branch from Knox County Middle School.

The Kentucky Chamber Foundation hosted the Civics Bee.

The Civics Bee competition took place in Frankfurt

“The Kentucky Chamber is proud to take steps to engage more young people in issues that are important to all of us,” said Ashli ​​Watts, president and CEO of Kentucky Chamber. “Our goal is to encourage the next generation to get involved in their communities and appreciate our roles, rights and responsibilities. We hope Civics Bee strives for civic participation for high school students across the state.

Kentucky was one of six states nationwide selected to host a civic bee at the college, as promoted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Entrants took part in a Civics Bee quiz in front of a panel of judges during the live event on Saturday. The event was also livestreamed on the Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Facebook page.

The first judges of the Kentucky Civics Bee were Kentucky Secretary of State Michael G. Adams, Eric Kennedy, Director of Advocacy at the Kentucky School Boards Association, LaKisha Miller, Executive Director of the Kentucky Chamber Foundation Workforce Center, and Kim Sweazy, Communications Business Analyst for Community Relations at Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America.