The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce is broadening the reach of its National Civics Bee regional competition this spring, opening the event to middle school students from across Northwest Florida after a successful debut last year in Okaloosa County.

• The 2026 regional competition, hosted in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will take place at 4 p.m. April 7 at Beachside Church in Fort Walton Beach. The event is open to the public and media.

Now in its second year, the competition has expanded from an Okaloosa County event to one that includes middle school students from Escambia County to Leon County.

“We were incredibly encouraged by the response to our inaugural event and are thrilled to see such meaningful growth in year two,” said Ted Corcoran, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “Expanding the competition to include students from across the region allows us to further our mission of fostering civic knowledge and leadership among young people.”

The National Civics Bee is a nonpartisan initiative that encourages middle school students to deepen their understanding of civics, engage in their communities and develop leadership skills. Students advance through essay submissions to compete in live regional, state and national events, with finalists earning the opportunity to compete for national recognition and educational prizes.

The program is part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s The Civic Trust and is made possible through the support of its founding partner, the Daniels Fund, Citizen Travelers and other funders.

Last year’s competition produced a notable result: the local winner advanced to become the Florida State Champion and competed at the national level in Washington, D.C.

For more information, visit fwbchamber.org/national-civics-bee