Osceola County Student Earns Second Place at National Civics Bee Championship in Washington, D.C.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — An Osceola County student has earned national recognition after finishing second among 52 competitors from across the United States and its territories at the 2026 National Civics Bee Championship in Washington, D.C.

Araoluwa A., a St. Cloud resident and freshman at NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee, represented Florida in the national competition Wednesday, October 14, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters. The event brought together top student competitors representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and American Samoa, testing their knowledge of American government, history, and civic engagement.

His second-place national finish marks an impressive achievement for the young scholar, who advanced through regional and statewide competitions to earn his place among the nation’s top civics students.

Araoluwa’s journey to Washington began April 17 at The Osceola Chamber’s regional National Civics Bee competition, held at Rosen Centre Orlando. Competing against 19 other students from Central and East Florida, he earned third place after completing multiple-choice rounds and answering questions before a panel of judges.

At the time, Araoluwa was an eighth-grade student at Voyager K-8 School in St. Cloud. His regional finish earned him $100, a trophy, and an opportunity to compete at the state level.

On June 30, he traveled to Tallahassee for the Florida State Civics Bee, hosted by Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics. Competing against top regional finalists from throughout Florida, Araoluwa captured first place, earning a $1,000 prize and the opportunity to represent Florida at the national championship.

His success builds on an already impressive record. In 2025, Araoluwa won The Osceola Chamber’s regional Civics Bee before finishing fourth in the statewide competition.

Beyond demonstrating his knowledge of government and civic affairs, Araoluwa has used the competition to bring attention to an important community issue. His original essay focused on raising awareness about human trafficking, a topic that remained central to his participation throughout the competition.

The National Civics Bee, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, encourages middle school students to develop a deeper understanding of American democracy while identifying challenges in their communities and proposing meaningful solutions.

This year’s national championship, hosted by actor Jerry O’Connell, was broadcast live on C-SPAN and YouTube as part of a nationwide effort to promote civic knowledge and engagement among young Americans.

The Osceola Chamber’s regional competition was made possible through grants from The Civic Trust and the Duke Energy Foundation, along with support from Rosen Hotels & Resorts.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts President and CEO Frank Santos praised the participating students and their commitment to civic education, particularly as the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence.

“With this year being our nation’s 250th anniversary, their commitment to understanding our civic foundations is special,” Santos said. “These students certainly reflect the very best of our community and we are proud to support their dreams.”

The Osceola Chamber also emphasized the importance of helping young people understand how government works and encouraging constructive participation in their communities, noting that a strong foundation in civics benefits Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and Osceola County both now and in the future.

With the 2026 competition concluded, 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 submit essays through February 2, 2027. Selected finalists will advance to live regional competitions.

For more information about Araoluwa and his work to raise awareness about human trafficking, visit his National Civics Bee student profile.

Students interested in participating in next year’s competition can apply for the 2027 National Civics Bee.

Araoluwa’s national achievement highlights the academic talent emerging from Osceola County schools and demonstrates how local students are making their voices heard on issues that matter far beyond their own communities.