As Maanha Nasir of Snoqualmie took the stage at last month’s National Civics Bee state championship, she spoke to judges and audience members with the confidence and thoroughly researched ideas of a visionary leader.

She talked passionately about her proposed solutions to public school funding inequalities. She even had a smart acronym for her proposal: the Washington Initiative for Student Equity. Or, she told the crowd with a grin, “Project WISE.”

As she strode across the stage with microphone in hand, detailing fixes to problems she saw in her community and state, it was hard to believe that this poised speaker with nuanced public policy ideas is still in middle school.

But yes, she and the other finalists in Washington’s third-annual statewide civics competition are, at oldest, barely teenagers.

Still, they have thoughtful suggestions to improve our society, fortified by deep knowledge of our country’s founding documents, laws and best aspirations.

As we look ahead to the 2026 celebration of America’s 250th birthday, these students are a heartening sign that America has strong leaders rising up to take their place in leadership and service.

The National Civics Bee is a project of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. In Washington state, the AWB Institute works with chambers of commerce around the state to host local competitions and then a statewide championship.

Employers are honored to help support a vibrant civic life to keep our communities and nation strong.

This year we had able and energetic partners in the local chambers of commerce in Vancouver, Kent, Stilly Valley and Walla Walla who helped us with a multi-faceted competition.

It began when hundreds of students across the state wrote essays with detailed proposals for a solution to a problem in their community.

The top essay writers were invited to compete in local quiz competitions on the Constitution, federal laws, Supreme Court decisions and other pieces of civic history.

Finally, they gave persuasive talks on their solutions and answered questions from judges.

All 15 finalists who made it to the statewide competition in Olympia on June 21 were impressive. Our three winners, who took home cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $250, were rock stars.

As the first-place winner, Maanha will also receive tickets to fly with a parent to Washington, D.C., for the second-annual National Civics Bee championship in November.

“I know that as a citizen, an individual and a student, I will never be the same again,” Maanha said about the impact of taking part in the National Civics Bee.

As an interesting sidenote, Maanha, who is a student in Washington Virtual Academies, is close friends with last year’s state winner. Ilyannie Gonzalez, also a remarkable young talent, placed in the top 10 last year at the inaugural National Civics Bee championship.

This year’s second-place state award went to Sara Akmel, a student at Mill Creek Middle School. She spoke about ways to support after-school programs, which have been transformational in her life.

Third place went to Calista Christiansen, a homeschool student who talked about the need for safe, legal access to a popular Columbia River beach near her home in Lyle.

Hearing each of these students speak so clearly and compellingly about needs in their community is an inspiration.

Morgan Irwin, a former police officer and state legislator now serving as AWB’s vice president of government affairs, congratulated all the winners and finalists in this year’s competition.

He brought in the perspective of another young leader.

Ariana Wilson, an Olympia High School graduate now studying at Cal Poly Humboldt, is working as an intern in AWB’s communications department this year. After watching this year’s National Civics Bee competition, she said something that Irwin shared with the crowd: “It’s like we’re seeing the future through their eyes.”

It’s a bright future indeed.

Kris Johnson is president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers association.