Delaware County to Host Civics Bee

ALBANY – The Business Council of New York State Inc. is proud to announce the inaugural National Civics Bee New York State Competition, an exciting event designed to foster civic engagement among students across the state.

This innovative competition, modeled on traditional spelling and geography bees, aims to empower young minds to actively participate in shaping their communities while providing a platform to showcase their ideas and enthusiasm for civics.

On May 30, at the Capital Center in Albany, the National Civics Bee New York State Competition will bring together three students from each of the state's four participating regions who have completed local competitions and earned the right to advance to Albany for the state finals. The competitors will represent:

Delaware County (Delaware County Chamber of Commerce)

Orange County (Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce)

Rochester (Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce) 

Staten Island (Staten Island Chamber of Commerce)

Finalists are vying for recognition, cash prizes, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent New York State in the national competition.

"We are thrilled to host the first-ever National Civics Bee in New York State," said Heather Mulligan, President and CEO of The Business Council of New York State. "As a business organization, we believe it's important to inspire the next generation of leaders to actively participate in civic life and, from an early age, contribute positively to their communities. We hope this event will encourage eager students to become informed, engaged citizens who are passionate about making a difference."

Ray Pucci, President of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, said, “Civics education is part of our overall workforce development strategy. We know that employees who are engaged in their communities are more likely to establish deep roots in our communities, volunteer for service opportunities with our non-profit organizations, and become members of Rotary International, Lions Club, church councils, and other groups that build and sustain our communities.”