NC State’s Department of Public Administration welcomed North Carolina’s top middle school civic leaders to campus June 16 for the North Carolina State Finals of the National Civics Bee. The competition concluded with Fayetteville eighth grader Callie Tisdale earning first place and advancing to the national championship in Washington, D.C., for her project addressing human trafficking awareness in Fayetteville. 

Hosted at the James. B. Hunt Library, the state finals capped off a nearly year-long competition that began with an essay contest on a civic issue. Nearly 600 North Carolina middle schoolers participated in the essay competition, with top performers advancing through three regional contests before earning a spot in the state championship. 

The event reflects the Department of Public Administration’s commitment to strengthening civic engagement and preparing the next generation of public leaders. By bringing students, educators and community leaders together, the competition encourages young people to develop the knowledge and skills needed to address challenges facing their communities.

Tisdale’s project focused on raising awareness about human trafficking in Fayetteville and partnering with local nonprofits to help address the issue.

“I was really excited to present my knowledge of civics to the community,” Tisdale said. “My favorite part was getting to present my ideas to the judges. I felt like I could clearly articulate the issues and problems facing our communities regarding human trafficking.”

Tisdale won $1,000 for her first-place finish. Finishing second was Ricky Li of Raleigh, who received $500. Kellan Hranitsky of Hillsborough placed third and won $250.  

Family and friends packed the audience to cheer on the finalists. Tisdale’s grandfather, NC State alumnus Bruce T. Brown, reflected on the experience. 

“I felt exceptionally proud and happy for my granddaughter,” he said. “I knew how hard she had been working, and it made it even more special that I was back on NC State’s campus for the first time since my 50th-year class reunion in 2025.”

The nine finalists represented communities across North Carolina, including Raleigh, Cary, Hillsborough, Willow Springs, Angier, Kinston, Fayetteville and Hope Mills. Students demonstrated their civic knowledge through two rounds of quiz questions before the top five finalists presented community challenges and proposed solutions. 

The competition challenges students to move beyond learning about government and democracy by applying civic knowledge to real-world problems. Finalists answered questions from judges and explained how civic engagement can create meaningful change in their communities.

The event was emceed by Mikiya Hedgepeth, deputy treasurer of NC State Student Government, and brought together students, families, educators, civic leaders and members of the NC State community. 

“The National Civics Bee is a reminder that students are the future. What they may lack in age is more than compensated for by their intentionality in being good citizens.”

Hedgepeth emphasized the importance of civic education for young people. 

“We live in a world where being ‘apolitical’ is no longer feasible,” Hedgepeth said. “The decisions made by local, state and federal government entities directly affect the lives of young people. The National Civics Bee is a reminder that students are the future. What they may lack in age is more than compensated for by their intentionality in being good citizens and their drive to become the change they want to see.”

Reflecting on her achievement, Tisdale said she will remember the support she received throughout the competition. 

“I really appreciated the support from the other competitors, judges, NC State faculty and audience members.”

Tisdale will represent North Carolina in the National Civics Bee this fall in Washington, D.C., where she will compete for the chance to win a $100,000 education savings plan. 

The National Civics Bee is sponsored nationally by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The North Carolina State Finals were hosted by NC State’s Department of Public Administration with support from Duke Energy. 

State finals judges included Nicole Clarke, a board member of the North Carolina Council for the Social Studies; Mitchell Moravec, donor engagement officer for the Triangle Community Foundation; and Derrick Remer, director of government and community relations for Duke Energy.

“Duke Energy was proud to support the NC Civics Bee because strong communities depend on engaged, informed citizens, and that starts with young people,” Remer said. “As a company committed to serving North Carolina’s communities, we believe civic education helps students better understand how decisions are made, how they can contribute, and why their voices matter.

“Seeing middle school students share thoughtful ideas about issues affecting their communities reinforced why this was such a meaningful investment,” he continued. “We hope the students left the Civics Bee with greater confidence, a deeper sense of civic responsibility, and the belief that they can help shape a stronger future for North Carolina.”

North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall was a guest speaker to wrap up the competition.

“The discourse that exceptional programs like the Civics Bee promote is vital to us all,” Marshall said. “As we prepare to mark the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it is inspiring to see the next generation of engaged citizens and thoughtful leaders exchanging ideas about the importance of democracy and good governance.”