Aarav Pradeep Sahu, an eighth-grade student at Tomlinson Middle School in Fairfield, has taken first place in the National Civics Bee Connecticut State Finals. He now advances to the 2025 National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C., to be held on Nov. 10.
“I’m proud to represent Connecticut in the national finals,” said Sahu.
The annual competition is aimed at improving civics education and literacy among middle school students, their families and communities.
Sahu narrowly beat Fairfield Woods Middle School’s Arav Kapoor and Vijeesh Senthil Nathan, Hampton Elementary School’s Madison Murphy, Olivia-Lourdes Muhammad from Six to Six Magnet School in Bridgeport, and Summer Savannah Smith from Martin Kellogg Middle School in Newington.
“It was months of work that led to this accomplishment,” said Sahu. “It was one of the best moments of this whole year and a jolt of pride.”
The Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s Foundation for Economic Growth & Opportunity partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, organizer of the National Civics Bee, to host regional bees and the Connecticut State Finals.
The finals were held on June 7 at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford.
“In order to be a good economy, you need to have people that are engaged in their civic community,” said CBIA Foundation director Dustin Nord. “It starts at an early age in terms of getting people to understand how they can impact their communities.”
Modeled on traditional spelling and geography bees, the National Civics Bee gives students the chance to win recognition and earn cash prizes by answering civics-based questions and sharing their ideas for improving their communities.
Kate Dias, Connecticut Education Association president; Wyatt Bosworth, Amazon manager of public policy, and Courtney Larkin, Travelers vice president of government relations, served as judges.
NBC Connecticut anchor Mike Hydeck hosted the event. Students also heard from Charles Hewes, Connecticut Department of Education deputy commissioner .
From FCN partner Easton Courier.
