Our community thrives on the foundations of civics, and The Osceola Chamber is excited to once again bring the National Civics Bee® to Central Florida. This initiative encourages middle schoolers to learn about American democracy, engage constructively in their communities, and build trust in their fellow citizens and institutions. In partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Rosen Hotels and Resorts, The Osceola Chamber hosted a regional final of the National Civics Bee on Friday,April 17.
Last November, The Osceola Chamber worked with the Osceola County School District and other local districts to invite middle schoolers in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades from public, private, charter, and home schools to submit essays as part of the first round of competition. Community leaders from across the country reviewed the essays and the top 20 highest-scoring students from the area were then invited to participate in a regional, live round.
The regional competition, hosted at Rosen Centre Hotel Orlando, featured two rounds of multiple-choice civics quiz questions emceed by Chamber President/CEO John Newstreet, providing a platform for students to showcase their civics knowledge. The five top-scoring students from the first two rounds then moved on to a Q & A round of questions posed by a panel of judges. Judges for the local competition were Tameara Crespo, City Clerk, City of Kissimmee; Sandie Martinez, Director,Community Engagement Osceola Region, Valencia College; and Judge Christine Arendas, Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit.
At the end of the Q & A round, the winners were Georgia Whittemore of Julia Landon College Preparatory School in Jacksonville in first place, Avi Jutla of Abraham Lincoln Middle School in Gainesville in second place, and Ara Afolabi of Voyager K-8 School in St. Cloud in third place.
All participants took home the tablet they used in competition, as well as a National Civics Bee t-shirt, and a goody bag. The first-place winner received $500 cash, with $250 for second place, and $100 for first place. These top three will now go on to compete in the National Civics Bee® Florida State Finals at Florida State University in Tallahassee on June 30. At the state competition they will have the opportunity to win additional cash prizes, and the first-place winner of the State Finals will earn a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Championship in the Fall of 2026. Prizes at the National Championship include a grand prize of$100,000 for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $15,000 for third place. All participating students and their families enjoyed a post-event party catered by Rosen Centre.
Said Newstreet, “Our great country and every community within the United States is built on the foundation of civics. Middle schoolers are at the perfect age to become better informed about American democracy as well as learn to respectfully and constructively engage in our community. The National Civics Bee provides a great platform for our young Americans to build greater trust in others and in our institutions. Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and Osceola County will benefit in the short term and long term when citizens are knowledgeable about how government works, lessons learned from our past, and constructive ways to engage in the process – a process which affects each and every one of us each and every day.”
The regional round of the National Civics Bee is brought to Central Florida by grants from The Civic Trust and the Duke Energy Foundation, and support from Rosen Hotels and Resorts.
Said Rosen Hotels & Resorts President & CEO Frank Santos, “It was an honor to host middle school students from all over Florida in the regional round of this year’s National Civics Bee, held at Rosen Centre. With this year being our nation’s 250th anniversary, their commitment to understanding our civic foundations is special. These students certainly reflect the very best of our community andwe are proud to support their dreams.”
For eighteen years our Poinciana Council has offered an annual scholarship to graduating high school seniors who live in the Poinciana area. This year, the Poinciana Council Board of Directors once again offered this scholarship opportunity to worthy seniors as well as students already enrolled in post-secondary institutions to help them continue with their degree or certification program.
The Poinciana Council Scholarship is funded by contributions made to the Poinciana Council Scholarship Fund and proceeds from events produced by the Poinciana Council Board of Directors. Thanks to an Osceola County Community Betterment Grant from District 3 Commissioner Brandon Arrington, the Board was able to match their collected funds in order to award four $1000 scholarships. New this year, a business forward scholarship in the amount of $1000 sponsored by HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital was also presented. The Board also presented each student with a $100 Visa gift card.
After an application review process, the Poinciana Council Board chose four remarkable high school seniors from four different Osceola County School District schools and one student enrolled at Osceola Technical College. The decision was based on extracurricular and volunteer activity, recommendation from the students’ teachers and advisors, and, most importantly,the students’ essay response to the prompt “As a young adult/professional inthe Poinciana Community, please address the biggest challenges facing thecommunity and ways that you can address those challenges considering youreducational goals, life experiences, and any obstacles or hardships that youhave overcome.”
This year’s Poinciana Council Scholarship Award winners were Angelina Angervil of New Dimensions, Lorenzo Mag-aso of Osceola County School for the Arts, Eman Fatima of Celebration High School, Jade Sewram of Poinciana High School, and Melina Delgado of Osceola Technical College.
A lunch including favorites from around the world – from pulled pork to Swedish meatballs - was catered, as it is every year, by the Poinciana High School culinary students under the instruction of Chef Juan Alamo. Poinciana Council Board Chair Biance Belabre, owner of A Creative Station, served as emcee.
Guest speaker, and Osceola County School District Assistant Superintendent, High School Division , Dr. Chundra Evens, Spoke directly to the students and urged them to take the support they have received to get to this point and choose to become that support to someone else as they go forward. She also reminded them that they are the future of Poinciana and beyond. Community advocate and recent Osceola School District graduate Gabriella Brocal reminded them to accept the aid and advice of mentors and learn from them when the opportunity presents itself, and to not take the earned wisdom of their parents and others in their lives for granted.
What amazing students will be recognized next year? We can't wait to find out. The Poinciana Council scholarship fund is significantly supported by proceeds from the Poinciana Council's annual events like PoincianaFest, which this year will be held on November 14. Anyone can also contribute to the scholarship fund in any amount at any time.
Contributions to the Poinciana Council's scholarship fund may be made HERE.
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