Middle Schoolers Sweep Civics Bee

Kent Denver Middle School took the top three spots on the podium at Wednesday’s Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Civics Bee, and the first-place finisher, Asher ’30, was interviewed on 9News Thursday morning! This is the third year Kent Denver has competed in the Civics Bee, and the second year in a row that we took first and second place.

As part of their history class, each Kent Denver 8th grader submitted a 500-word essay proposing ideas to improve their communities. Out of more than 300 applicants for the regional bee, 20 local students were selected as qualifiers—and 12 of those were Kent Denver middle schoolers!

Four Sun Devils advanced to the finals in Wednesday's competition, with three finishing on the podium and qualifying for state, which will be held in July. Congratulations to Asher ’30, Cornelia ’30 and Archer ’30! The students also won cash prizes of $2,500, $1,000 and $500, respectively, which will be matched as a donation to the school.

Congratulations to all of our qualifiers who represented Kent Denver so well! Read below for a list of students and their essay topics.

Civics Bee Qualifiers & Essay Topics

Sydney ’30 — Teen Fentanyl Crisis
Cornelia ’30 — Lack of High-Quality Public Fields or Spaces in Denver Parks (2nd Place)
Sarah ’30 — Healthcare Reform - Healthcare for All
Eli ’30 — Rising Cost of Housing and Rent in Denver
Archer ’30 — Judicial Bias in Court Decisions due to Reelection Campaigns (3rd Place)
Amara ’30 — Eliminating Single-Use Plastics
Sophia ’30 — Creating Equitable Programs for Kids in Foster Care
Mason ’30 — Increase Funding for Denver Public Schools
Asher ’30 — Importance of Funding National Parks (1st Place)
Dillon ’30 — Gun Violence in Colorado
Charlie ’30 — Importance of Civic Education and Engagement, Especially at the Local Level
Alex ’30 — Importance of Funding STEM Education in DPS (Finalist)