An Osceola County student is preparing to take his knowledge of American democracy to the national stage after winning Florida’s State Civics Bee, earning the opportunity to represent the Sunshine State at the National Civics Bee on October 14 in Washington, D.C.
Araoluwakiitan A., a freshman at NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee, will compete against top students from across the country at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters, where the national champion will receive a $100,000 education fund.
His journey to the national competition began April 17 at The Osceola Chamber’s regional National Civics Bee, held at Rosen Centre Orlando. Then an eighth-grade student at Voyager K-8 School in St. Cloud, Araoluwakiitan competed against 19 other students from Central and East Florida, finishing third and earning a $100 prize, a trophy, and a spot in the state competition.
On June 30, he traveled to Tallahassee to compete in the Florida State Civics Bee, hosted by Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics. Facing the top three finishers from each of Florida’s five regional competitions, Araoluwakiitan captured first place, earning $1,000 and the opportunity to represent Florida nationally.
The achievement marks another milestone for the young scholar, who has demonstrated a strong commitment to civic education. In 2025, Araoluwakiitan won The Osceola Chamber’s regional Civics Bee before finishing fourth in the state competition.
For the past two years, The Osceola Chamber has helped bring the National Civics Bee to Osceola County and Central Florida, providing middle school students with opportunities to strengthen their understanding of American government, explore civic responsibility, and develop solutions to challenges facing their communities.
In 2026, The Osceola Chamber was one of five organizations selected to host regional competitions across Florida.
The National Civics Bee challenges students through multiple-choice questions and discussions with judges, encouraging participants to demonstrate their knowledge of American democracy while developing critical thinking and communication skills.
The national competition will take place Wednesday, October 14, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with live coverage available on C-SPAN and YouTube.
Meanwhile, applications are already open for the 2027 National Civics Bee. Students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades attending public, private, charter, or home schools are eligible to participate by submitting an essay before February 2, 2027.
Community leaders from across the country will evaluate the submissions, with the top 20 students selected to advance to each regional live competition.
For more information about Araoluwakiitan and his civic involvement, visit his National Civics Bee student profile. Students interested in participating next year can apply for the 2027 National Civics Bee
