Greater Vancouver Chamber Announces New Incentives For 2026 Civics Bee, Rewarding Student Achievement And School Engagement (Photo) - 01/08/26
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2026
GREATER VANCOUVER CHAMBER ANNOUNCES NEW INCENTIVES FOR 2026 CIVICS BEE, REWARDING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT
State champions can earn a $5,000 donation for their school and a paid trip to Washington, D.C.
VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Presenting Sponsor OnPoint Community Credit Union, is announcing new incentives for the 2026 National Civics Bee®, further elevating the competition’s impact on student achievement, civic learning, and school engagement across southwest Washington.
In addition to cash prizes for local winners, students who advance beyond the local competition now have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on their school communities. If the local champion advances to the state competition and wins, their school could receive a $5,000 donation. State champions will also earn a paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will represent Washington at the National Civics Bee® Championship in Fall 2026.
The National Civics Bee® is an educational initiative designed to inspire middle school students to explore American democracy, strengthen their understanding of civics, and develop real-world problem-solving skills, all while competing for recognition and prizes.
Local 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are invited to participate in the first round of the competition by submitting a 500–750 word essay. The essay prompt challenges students to identify an issue or opportunity in their community and propose thoughtful, actionable solutions encouraging civic curiosity, critical thinking, and community involvement.
Essay submissions will be accepted through Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. at VancouverUSA.com/Civics-Bee.
A panel of distinguished judges, made up of local business and community leaders, will review submissions. The top 20 students will advance to the final round - a live quiz competition testing civics knowledge in a fast-paced and engaging format. The live quiz event will take place on Monday, April 20, 2026.
The top three local winners will advance to the state-level competition, where they’ll compete for additional honors and prizes. Local cash awards include $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $125 for
third place.
The 2026 Southwest Washington Civics Bee is presented by OnPoint Community Credit Union, an organization deeply rooted in education. Founded by teachers in 1932, OnPoint has a long-standing commitment to supporting students, educators, and lifelong learning throughout the community.
“We’re proud to support the Southwest Washington Civics Bee as a reflection of our commitment to meaningful community partnerships and continued expansion in southwest Washington,” said Amy Reeves, SVP, SW Washington Regional Manager, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “By working alongside organizations that strengthen civic education, we help create opportunities that empower students and contribute to the long-term success of the communities we serve.”
“The National Civics Bee creates a powerful bridge between education, civic engagement, and community leadership. These additional incentives reinforce the importance of student achievement while encouraging schools to actively support civic learning. We’re grateful to OnPoint Community Credit Union for helping us expand the impact of this program across southwest Washington,” said Janet Kenefsky, Chief Operating Officer at the Greater Vancouver Chamber.
For more information on the essay topic, submission guidelines, competition rules, and access to teacher and parent resources, visit VancouverUSA.com/Civics-Bee.
The 2026 Southwest Washington Civics Bee is made possible through the generous support of its sponsors, led by Presenting Sponsor OnPoint Community Credit Union, with additional support from AAA Washington, the City of Battle Ground, Desimone Consulting Group, and Greenhaven Landscapes.
Business leaders interested in sponsoring the National Civics Bee® and supporting civic education are encouraged to contact the Greater Vancouver Chamber at Partnerships@VancouverUSA.com.
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About the National Civics Bee
The National Civics Bee is an annual competition that encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. In the first round of the contest, local middle school students participate in an essay competition. Judges will then select 20 finalists to participate in our local competition: a live quiz event testing civics knowledge. The top three students from each local competition will advance to the state competition. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, this competition was launched to tackle the lack of knowledge about history and civics among middle school students, exposed by new federal data on the Nation's Report Card. In 2022, the average civics score at eighth grade decreased by 2 points compared to 2018.
About the Greater Vancouver Chamber
SW Washington’s largest business organization, the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), with nearly 1000 members, has been Moving Business Forward in southwest Washington for more than 135 years through business advocacy, community building, education, and creating visibility for our members. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals, and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. The GVC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate and prosperity for all. For more information, please visit VancouverUSA.com.
About OnPoint Community Credit Union
OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union headquartered in Oregon, serving more than 633,000 members and with assets of $9.53 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and four Washington counties (Cowlitz, Clark, Lewis and Skamania). OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). More information is available at OnPointCU.com.
