The London-Laurel County Chamber of Commerce has announced the launch of the 2024 National Civics Bee®, 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 in London 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. Middle school students from public, private, charter, and home schools are invited to take part in the first-round civics essay competition. After a panel reviews the 500-word essays, the top 20 students will be selected to move on to the next round of competition: a live quiz event to test their civics knowledge. The London-Laurel County Chamber of Commerce will host this event at a date/time to be announced. The finalists and top winners will receive various prizes, including $500 cash for the first-place student. The deadline for student essay submissions is January 8, 2024. For more information on the essay topic, competition rules and prizes, and to submit your essay, visit: https://londonlaurelchamber.com/national-civics-bee/