(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News)
This is DRB Media Communications. The Odessa Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted the Fourth Annual National Civics Bee. Danny Barrera has the story.
Odessa, Texas/April 12, 2026-The Odessa Chamber of Commerce hosted the Fourth Annual National Civics Bee® on Saturday, April 11th at the Odessa College Wood Health Sciences Building. This event was open to all 6th, 7th, or 8th grade students in the area. More than 180 students submitted an essay to “Identify a problem facing our community”
(Renee Earls, President/CEO-Odessa Chamber of Commerce/Odessa, Texas)
“The United States is about to celebrate our two hundred and fiftieth birthday, and these students today are really focusing on the very beginning. The civics aspect of our entire country and what our country was based on.”
The National Civics Bee® is an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions.
(Renee Earls, President/CEO-Odessa Chamber of Commerce/Odessa, Texas)
“So, the students all submitted an essay on something in their community that they would like to fix. So, we have essays from drug abuse to child abuse to human trafficking, to the litter that we see around the community to water issues. Um, all types of very interesting topics that these students have some very good solutions for.”
Twenty local middle school students will compete for the top prize, which is $1,000.
(Renee Earls, President/CEO-Odessa Chamber of Commerce/Odessa, Texas)
“So, of our twenty finalists, our top three students will go on to the state. Be in Austin in June. Uh, today’s first prize winner will walk away with one thousand dollars cash. And then our second, third, fourth, and fifth grader. Uh, fifth prize winners will also walk away with some cash. They’ll get some other prizes. So, you know, they’re tremendous winners to make it to today’s event.”
For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera
(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News)
Follow us on Facebook, X Formally Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and visit drbmediacommunicationsdigitalnews.tv. I’m David Gomez. Thanks for watching.
