Karli Matthews sat at a small round table in an open room of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with five other students. Court cases, federal laws and information on grants were strewn across the table. A competition judge watched nearby as the group worked together to find a solution for students in a school without funding to provide technology or high-speed internet to supplement their education.
Around them, other groups of students wracked their brains to solve similar issues. The competition organizers had given each table a different problem and related documentation. At the one-hour mark, the pressure increased as each group presented their solution to the judge within their allotted five minutes. A two-minute Q&A period followed each presentation.
“It was kind of chaotic, honestly,” Matthews said. “So we obviously had all our stuff. We had note cards. And then there was a judge that was watching us find our solutions the whole time—judging us on how we work together and all that.”
Matthews, an eighth-grade student at Lee Academy in Clarksdale, represented Mississippi as the state champion and as one of only 39 finalists at the National Civics Bee Championship held from Nov. 10 to Nov. 11 in Washington, D.C.
“This is the second year, and next year the goal is to have all 50 states competing,” Josh Schimel of Alloy Communications told the Mississippi Free Press on Nov. 18.
Matthews won the Civics Bee in Mississippi in May 2025 at Mississippi Public Broadcasting. She earned her title by writing a compelling essay on gun deaths and the marks they leave on both her community and the nation at large. The essay included a solution that incorporated the founding principles of civics.
“I know in my community, specifically, there are so many gun deaths,” Matthews said. “Like, in Mississippi, there are 686 people that die every year due to guns. And that might seem like a small number to some, but when you consider just how many days are in a year, even in the amount of people dying every day due to guns, in Mississippi, it’s really a devastating number.”
Gun-Safety Solutions
Matthew talked to local law enforcement and researched solutions that had been put in place in other areas of the state and country, including gun-buyback programs. The sheriff encouraged her to explore ways to prevent the formation of bad habits at an early age. She proposed that law-enforcement officers should educate children in elementary schools about gun safety and conflict-resolution techniques that do not rely on violence. She wants to use organizations like the National Association for School Resource Officers to complete the trainings.
“This (proposal) would be for these law-enforcement officers to enter elementary, private and public schools in Mississippi and have a class—whether it be during P.E. classes or at a school wide assembly—about gun safety: how to handle a gun, what to do when you have a gun, and how to resolve conflicts without picking up a gun or using violence in any way.”
Matthews would want the classes to be required for all students.
“It’s important, and, well, it can save lives, truly, because educating children about gun safety and conflict resolution, especially in schools and nonoptional classes, is shown by the U.S. Department of Justice to decrease gun deaths,” she continued.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s The Civic Trust sponsors the National Civics Bee. The annual competition—open to sixth- through eighth-grade students in public, private, charter or homeschools—aims to strengthen civics education and to inspire students to engage in community solutions. The winner earned the title of America’s National Civics Champion and a $100,000 529 Education Savings Plan.
Emmy-winning television host and producer Mario Lopez emceed this year’s live-streamed competition.
“Civics education is the foundation of our democracy. It teaches young people how to participate, lead, and make a difference,” Lopez said in an Oct. 28, 2025, press release. “I’m honored to host this year’s National Civics Bee and help spotlight these incredible students who are showing that the next generation cares deeply about their communities and our country’s future.”
A Competition of Like-Minded Students
The four-round competition began with the group project and included a 10-question multiple-choice test on history and civics. The 10 students with the highest cumulative scores from the first two rounds were selected to present a speech on their individual essays. The competition ended with a final round in which students answered open-ended Jeopardy-style questions about civics and history.
“I got to round two, so I was not in the top 10, unfortunately,” Matthews said. “But it was still so fun, and those rounds were fun.”
This is the second year that Matthews competed for the state title. Last year, her teacher Lori Ann Evans insisted that she enter the competition. After participating, she realized that she had a genuine interest in the subject. This year, she entered voluntarily.
“I’m interested in how our government works, and that kind of catapulted me into learning about civics: about the history, about what’s going on today in our nation, and learning how to be an active citizen,” Matthews said. “But (I am) also learning that just because I’m too young to vote doesn’t mean that I have no voice and that I have no power. I can still do things, as shown in my essay, in implementing solutions.”
Matthews’ mother and her aunt traveled to Washington, D.C., alongside her. Together, over their trip, the trio visited the Holocaust Museum, the National Mall, the Museum of the Bible and the World War II Memorial. They also took a night tour of the city.
Amanda Yara, Matthews’ mother, said that one of the most important things her daughter has learned is how to decipher misinformation and bias. She was excited to see her daughter with other like-minded students.
“I’m super proud of her,” Yara said. “I’m not surprised she can do whatever she puts her mind to.”
Matthews has aged out of the competition but is now volunteering to help other students who are interested in entering the competition.
“I would say to anyone who wants to compete next year but is intimidated or anything, just write the essay,” Matthews said. “It’s really not that hard. Do the research. Write the essay. Study for just a little bit every day. And even if you don’t make it as far as you hope to make it, you will learn so much and you might just win the civics bee.”