Lawton 8th Grader is Headed to Washington, D.C., Wins Civics Bee State Finals
OKLAHOMA CITY (August 21, 2024) — With a speech on increasing voter turnout, 8th Grader Cullen Perez of Lawton took home 1st place in the first ever Oklahoma State Final Civics Bee, Wednesday morning.
The State Chamber of Oklahoma proudly hosted the 2024 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 the Will Rogers Theatre. 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.
1st Place- Cullen Perez, 8th Grade, Lawton MacArthur Middle School
2nd Place- Stran Talley, 9th Grade, Stillwater Junior High
3rd Place- Remi Isom, 7th Grade, Bishop Schools, Lawton
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. Perez will also be invited to advance to the national round of the competition in Washington, D.C.
“I’m going to enjoy the time that I have in D.C. I am going to do a little bit of studying,” said Perez. “This is a once in a lifetime experience for me. I want to see the Washington Monument and anything there that has any significance to American history.”
“We’re so excited to encourage Oklahoma students to engage in civics with a 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 information on the Civics Bee visit:
https://okstatechamber.com/national-civics-bee/
Media Contact: Brent Skarky – brent@okstatechamber.com, (405) 818-1939
