Civics Spotlight

Peter Daniell, a 14-year-old from Broomfield, Colorado, is the 2026 National Civics Bee champion. The annual competition tests students on U.S. civics. This year’s championship took place on October 14, in Washington, D.C.

To win, Peter had to advance through four phases of competition: an essay contest, a small-scale civics quiz event, Colorado state finals, and the national championship. He competed with 51 other finalists during the national championship. Similar to a spelling bee, the championship was a fast-paced competition that tested participants’ knowledge of topics including “American government, the Constitution, and the civic challenges facing their communities,” a press release says. Peter took the top prize, which includes a $100,000 contribution to his future education.

Peter chose food insecurity for his essay topic. “One of the things I learned from the National Civics Bee is that most challenges don’t have simple answers,” he says in the press release. Peter also emphasizes the importance of “researching issues, listening to different perspectives, and thinking through ideas” when solving community problems such as hunger.

GRAND PRIZE Peter Daniell accepts his National Civics Bee prize: $100,000 toward his future education.

Michael Carney is president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which hosts the bee. “Twenty thousand students entered this year’s National Civics Bee in 240 communities across the country,” he says, in the press release. “These students aren’t waiting until they’re old enough to make a difference. They already do.”