Grand Island student Mya Bernal wins first National Civics Bee Nebraska State Finals, will go to national finals

LINCOLN, Nebraska – June 24, 2026 – A Barr Middle School student from Grand Island won the first National Civics Bee Nebraska State Finals on June 23, earning a trip to the 2026 National Civics Bee competition in Washington, D.C., in October, and a $1,000 prize.
 
Mya Bernal was among the 17 Nebraska State Finals qualifiers competing in the first state finals hosted by the Nebraska Chamber Foundation at Innovation Campus. Her final round pitch presentation was on the closing of the Tyson beef plant in January and the industry’s impact on the community and state.
 
First runner-up was Xi Lin, from Elkhorn Ridge Middle School in Elkhorn; with second runner-up Joseph Douglas from Fremont Middle School in Fremont.
 
The National Civics Bee is aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the National Civics Bee is an annual nonpartisan civics competition for middle schoolers that increases civic knowledge, skills and disposition among young Americans, their families and communities.
 
Sixth, 7th and 8th grade students from participating Nebraska public, private, charter and home schools began the competition in January by submitting essays, followed by Nebraska Regional Competitions. The top students from each Regional Competition advanced to the State Finals. The live event featured two rounds of civics questions followed by a Q&A round of five finalists pitching their proposals for improving their communities.
 
The judges for this year’s competition were Kendra Ritchie, Associate Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business; Dave Rippe, Director of the Scott Scholars Program at Hastings College; and Dr. Jane Stavem, Deputy Commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Education.
 
Mya will compete in the National Championship in October 2026, where the winner receives a grand prize of a $100,000 contribution to a 529 plan. The second-place National finalist will receive $25,000 and the third-place National finalist will receive $15,000.
 
For more information on the National Civics Bee, visit: https://civics.uschamberfoundation.org/national-civics-bee/

###

---