Wichita student wins Kansas State Finals of the National Civics Bee on Youth Civics Day
Proceeds to national championship in D.C.
Wichita, Kan. – Tanya Ramesh, a Robinson Middle School student from Wichita, won the Kansas State Finals of the National Civics Bee on Thursday, June 5, and will represent Kansas at the National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C. this fall. Ramesh earned a $1,000 prize after her presentation on health care access in rural Kansas.
“Winning this competition means so much to me because it’s proof that if you work hard and you put your mind to anything, you can achieve it,” said Ramesh. “I’m so happy that it paid off and that I was able to educate people in the community about the issue of rural health care in areas of Kansas and beyond. I’m just happy I get the chance to go and do this at nationals.”
Madeleine Stewart, a student at Prairie Star Middle School in Overland Park, placed second and received a $500 prize after her presentation on punitive driving laws that trap Kansans in poverty. Zane Hoff, a student at Salina’s Lakewood Middle School, placed third and received a $250 prize following his presentation on food insecurity.
Madeleine Stewart, Tanya Ramesh and Zane Hoff, left to right, were the top three finishers. First prize-winner Ramesh will represent Kansas at the National Civics Bee in November. Credit: Gaberial Booker
The three middle-school students were among the 15 participants from five competitions hosted by chambers in Hutchinson, Overland Park, Pittsburg, Salina and Wichita. This was the second year the Kansas State Finals of the National Civics Bee took place at the Kansas Leadership Center as part of a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Students participated in two rounds of multiple-choice questions ranging in difficulty from 6th to 12th-grade level civics questions. For the third round, five finalists delivered a three-minute presentation on an essay they submitted to demonstrate their enthusiasm for civics by sharing an idea for improving their community. Students responded in real time to questions about their essay from a panel of judges.
Tanya Ramesh, first place, with Kaye Monk-Morgan
Madeleine Stewart, second place, with Kaye Monk-Morgan
Zane Hoff, third place, with Kaye Monk-Morgan
“Congratulations to the students who took home prizes, but to me, every student here is a winner. Each has demonstrated both civic knowledge and a passion to serve and benefit their communities,” said Kaye Monk-Morgan, president and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center. “We believe that informed and active citizens make for more innovative and connected communities, which means a strong democracy, a strong economy, and a strong workforce, and that our continued prosperity depends on the strength of all three. Through the Civics Bee, the Kansas Leadership Center fosters greater civic knowledge throughout Kansas and celebrates our civic pride.”
The half-day event also included special programming sponsored by Fidelity Bank and EY that explored and celebrated civic engagement and youth leadership. Manu Meel, CEO of BridgeUSA, delivered the keynote address, Desmond E. Bryant-White read poetry, and KLC staff hosted breakout sessions on student civic leadership, civic education for educators and parents/guardians, and corporate social responsibility. Community-based organizations were also in attendance sharing ways to get involved in the neighborhood, community and civic life.
Governor Laura Kelly recently proclaimed June 5, 2025, as Youth Civics Day, honoring the importance of civic education and youth engagement across the state.
Learn more about the Kansas State Finals of the National Civics Bee.®
About the Kansas Leadership Center
The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) is a first-of-its-kind nonprofit educational organization with a civic mission, national reputation and global reach. Founded in 2007 to foster leadership for stronger, healthier and more prosperous Kansas communities, KLC receives core funding from the Kansas Health Foundation (a private, philanthropic organization). It partners with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, businesses and communities to build cultures that are healthy, productive and well-positioned to make measurable progress on daunting challenges and emergent opportunities. KLC Press publishes leadership books and The Journal, a nationally recognized, award-winning civic issues magazine.
Over the past 18 years, KLC has built a strong and respected institution in Kansas designed to deliver leadership development and culture change at unparalleled scale. Now, organizations across the country and around the world look to us to provide resources and consultation to support their own aspirations for mission-driven leadership education. Learn more at www.kansasleadershipcenter.org.
MEDIA:
Carrie Lindeman
316-393-1076
carrie@lindemancollective.com
