SEPTEMBER 2025  25 
In July, the Illinois Chamber of 
Commerce had the honor of host­
ing the very first State Civics Bee 
Finals at the University of Illinois 
Springfield, presented by Illinois 
Chamber Member, Kinder Morgan. 
The event brought an outstanding 
turnout and an inspiring show of 
support! We were thrilled to welcome 
fifteen bright and engaged students, 
supportive families, and community 
leaders together to celebrate civic 
knowledge and leadership 
	
The National Civics Bee, held in 
partnership with the U.S. Chamber 
of Commerce Foundation, brings 
together exceptional middle school 
students from across the state of 
Illinois to demonstrate their knowl­
edge of civics, government, and the 
principles of active citizenship. This 
initiative not only highlights the im­
portance of civic education but also 
fosters a spirit of engagement and 
leadership among our youth.
	
The energy in the room was 
inspiring. Our student participants 
demonstrated not only a strong 
understanding of civics but also the 
confidence and passion that will 
shape the future of our state. Their 
thoughtful answers and innovative 
ideas showed us that the next genera­
tion is ready to take on challenges and 
find solutions for their communities.
	
We extend our warmest con­
gratulations to Aisha from Timber 
Ridge Middle School, who earned 
first place in Illinois’ State Civics Bee! 
We are so proud to have her repre­
sent our state this November at the 
National Civics Bee in Washington, 
D.C. Her achievement is a testament 
to the power of civic education and 
the promise of our youth.
	
The Illinois Chamber of Com­
merce is grateful to all who partici­
pated and supported this inaugural 
event. Together, we are not only 
celebrating outstanding students but 
also strengthening the foundation of 
civic engagement that will carry our 
communities forward.
	
This event would not have been 
possible without the incredible 
support of our presenting sponsor, 
Kinder Morgan. Their partnership 
and commitment made it possible 
for us to bring together leaders, 
professionals, and communities 
from across Illinois for an evening of 
connection and recognition. We also 
extend our gratitude to our collabo­
rating chambers, whose involvement 
and dedication were instrumental 
in making this event a true success: 
The Greater Springfield Chamber 
of Commerce, Lake Zurich Area 
Chamber of Commerce, Orland Park 
Area Chamber of Commerce, O’Fal­
lon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce, 
and Champaign County Chamber of 
Commerce. Each Chamber played a 
vital role in promoting the event, en­
gaging their members, and ensuring 
strong representation from across the 
state.
	
We would like to recognize and 
thank those who generously shared 
their time, talent, and expertise to 
help bring this event to life. A special 
thank you goes to our emcee and Illi­
nois Chamber Board Member, Kelly 
Edwards, whose energy, professional­
ism, and presence guided the evening 
seamlessly.
	
We are grateful to our distin­
guished panel of judges, whose 
thoughtful insights and commitment 
were central to the success of the 
program. Chairman of the Illinois 
Chamber Board of Directors, Dan 
Wagner, Brad Cole, CEO of the 
Illinois Municipal League, and Ryan 
McCreery, Government Affairs 
Consultant with Kinder Morgan each 
brought a wealth of knowledge and 
perspective to the judging process, 
helping us highlight and honor out­
standing achievements.
	
Together, our sponsors, cham­
bers, judges, and emcee helped create 
an event that not only celebrated 
excellence but also fostered stronger 
connections across communities and 
industries. Their contributions exem­
plify the spirit of collaboration that 
makes events like this possible. We 
look forward to welcoming everyone 
back next year!
Chamber 
Hosts 2025 
National 
Civics Bee®

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