Three Students Advance to National Civics Bee® State Finals; Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce to Host Program Again Next Year
National Finals Set for Washington, D.C. in October 2026
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL – (July 13, 2026) – Three middle school students from the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s National Civics Bee® Regional Finals represented Northwest Florida at the National Civics Bee State Finals, held Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Florida State University Institute for Governance and Civics in Tallahassee.
Arianna N., Emma C., and Rishi T. advanced to the state competition after placing among the top three at the regional level in April, competing against top-scoring middle schoolers from chambers across Florida.
Link to digital release: Three Students Advance to National Civics Bee® State Finals; Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce to Host Program Again Next Year
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For more information, visit: www.fwbchamber.org/national-civics-bee
Three Students Advance to National Civics Bee® State Finals; Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce to Host Program Again Next Year
National Finals Set for Washington, D.C. in October 2026
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL – (July 13, 2026) – Three middle school students from the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s National Civics Bee® Regional Finals represented Northwest Florida at the National Civics Bee State Finals, held Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Florida State University Institute for Governance and Civics in Tallahassee.
Arianna N., Emma C., and Rishi T. advanced to the state competition after placing among the top three at the regional level in April, competing against top-scoring middle schoolers from chambers across Florida.
The top three at the State Finals were:
- 1st Place: Araoluwakiitan A., The Osceola Chamber
- 2nd Place: Georgia W., The Osceola Chamber
- 3rd Place: Orion A., Greater Sarasota Chamber
“We are so proud of Arianna, Emma, and Rishi for representing our region at the state level,” said Rachelle Graves, Director of Special Events at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “These students dedicated countless hours to studying civics and community engagement, and their hard work reflects the strength of the program we’ve built here in Northwest Florida.”
The National Civics Bee® State Champion will go on to compete at the National Civics Bee®, taking place in Washington, D.C., on October 13-14, 2026.
“The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber is honored to host the National Civics Bee for a second consecutive year and to welcome students from across our region,” said Ted Corcoran, President/CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “Encouraging our youth to learn about government, civic responsibility, and community leadership is an investment in the future of Northwest Florida. We are proud to help provide a platform where tomorrow’s leaders can shine.”
The National Civics Bee, an initiative aimed at encouraging young Americans to engage in civic life and contribute to their communities, continues to grow in both participation and impact throughout the region.
For more information, visit: www.fwbchamber.org/national-civics-bee
