Mustang Eighth Grader Wins Civics Bee State Finals
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 12, 2025) — With great knowledge of government and stellar speaking skills, eighth grader Alana Haikin of Mustang took home first place in the Oklahoma State Final Civics Bee, Monday morning.
For the second year, The State Chamber of Oklahoma proudly hosted the 2025 National Civics Bee in our state. It’s an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to learn and engage with government and contribute to their communities. The Civics Bee final was organized in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and held in Oklahoma City at Innovation Hall in the Oklahoma City Innovation District. The competition inspires 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.
Each finalist demonstrated their excellent knowledge of civics. The competition’s top three winners are as follows:
- 1st Place – Alana Haikin, Mustang Central Middle School
- 2nd Place – Leena Atiyeh, Stillwater Junior High
- 3rd Place – Ella Smith, Lawton Central High
After finishing in the top three at local qualifiers, nine finalists participated in a live quiz event. They also gave speeches on their civics essays and answered questions from judges to test their civic knowledge. The winners received cash prizes, including $1,000 for the first-place student. With her speech on the importance of mental health awareness and support, Haikin won the state competition. She will also be invited to the national round of the competition in Washington, D.C. in November and compete to win up to $100,000 in scholarships.
“It feels great. I’m so excited to go to Washington. It was a great experience,” said Haikin. “It costs nothing. You have the potential to learn about civics and government. You have the ability to win cash prizes and go to amazing places.”
“We’re so excited to encourage Oklahoma students to engage in civics with this unique platform to demonstrate their knowledge,” said Chad Warmington, president and CEO of The State Chamber. “It’s an awesome opportunity for students who want to get active in government. We’re hoping this event will grow annually and encourage more and more Oklahoma students to get involved.”
For more on the Civics Bee visit: https://okstatechamber.com/national-civics-bee/
Media Contact: Brent Skarky – brent@okstatechamber.com, (405) 818-1939
