Barr 8th grader wins Nebraska’s first civics bee title

Mya Bernal is an eighth grader from Barr Middle School with contagious school spirit. Whether it is performing in band, taking the stage in show choir, interviewing a State Senator for our podcast, or excelling in the classroom, Mya is about as involved at her school as it gets. Now she can add Nebraska Civics Bee state champion to her fast growing resume.

As the state champion, Mya will represent Nebraska in the National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C., in October.

“It's crazy,” Mya said. “I don't think it really clicked to me until people started making it a big deal. Because I was like, ‘Oh, I just gotta go to D.C.’ But no, I'm representing the whole state. And I’m representing what I believe in, and what I wrote in my essay on is something I think is very personal to the state.”

Mya’s civics bee journey begins

Mya’s Civics Bee journey started back in January. The Barr eighth grade social studies teaching team brought the Civics Bee opportunity to students in their classes, and the Bulldogs went to work.

The primary focus for Barr was connecting their focus on student writing skills with the Civics Bee project. Each student crafted and submitted an essay spotlighting what they believed to be an important issue or challenge they see in a Nebraska community. By tackling this project, each eighth grade student was able to make connections to concepts discussed in their social studies classes, and articulate them through written word which strengthens both self-expression and writing standards.

For Mya, there was one Nebraska community that touched her heart: Lexington.

After a recent family trip to Lexington, Mya saw firsthand how much the community was coming together in the wake of the Tyson plant suddenly closing. When the Civics Bee essay project came across her desk, she knew sharing the spotlight — no matter how small — on the good people and community of Lexington would be a worthy cause.

“I talked about how much it would impact the community, like the economic loss of it,” Mya reflected. “And then I talked about how people like me could help with job fairs and clothing and food drives. In my speech I talked about how I'm spreading awareness. It feels good that I can use my voice for something positive, and especially something that I feel pretty deeply about.”

The message resonated.

Mya’s social studies acumen, essay, and passion for showing support for a hurting Nebraska community found her winning the regional Civics Bee hosted in Kearney in April.

Overall, the regional bee found Barr Middle School well represented. Seven Barr students were selected to compete in the regional Civics Bee out of a field of 20 students. Eighth grader Nora Hilligas finished third overall and joined Mya in earning a trip to the state Civics Bee competition.

Classroom connections and preparation

For the Barr social studies teaching team, the pursuit of the Civics Bee and resulting student success brought an extra layer of excitement to their classrooms.

“We celebrate students' performance on the field and on the court and performances on the stage,” Mr. Zach Haas, Barr eighth grade social studies teacher and Civics Bee sponsor, said. “But I think it's also important that we celebrate student performance in other areas, like in social studies and civics. These students are doing such a great job, and I would like for them to see the recognition that they deserve.”

With sights set on the state Civics Bee for Nebraska, preparation began. Overall, 18 students from across Nebraska qualified for the state bee with two of them proudly representing Barr Middle School and GIPS.

Mya and Nora were busy with preparation. Diving into sample questions, reviewing Constitution amendments, key historical moments, and the like were regular activities for the scholars. Much of the preparation was focused on what would be the test question portion of the competition, all of it rooted in the standards of eighth grade social studies and American history classes.

State competition and public presentation

But one new wrinkle was added to the mix: a public presentation.

Each student competing at the state Civics Bee would be given an opportunity to speak on behalf of the essay they penned, a chance to share their passion and further context around the issues they identified in their communities with ideas of how to help.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking. It was very much framed like the same as the regionals, so I kind of knew what I was getting into, besides like the speech part, which I only learned about the day before,” Mya said. “By the second round I'm in second place… Then the third round I'm fourth to give my speech, so I'm like, ‘Okay, don't get psyched out. I got this!’”

And “got this” she did.

At the end of the competition it was Mya who heard her name announced as the state Civics Bee champion. A culmination of her hard work, strong writing, speaking skills, social studies knowledge, and passion for giving back to the community. As the state champion she will represent Nebraska in the National Civics Bee hosted this fall in Washington, D.C., a truly memorable achievement that will last a lifetime, both for Mya and for Nebraska as she made state history in this pursuit.

Statewide impact and future leadership

For the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the event’s hosting organization, it is a source of pride to be making a statement on the national stage through education.

“At the Nebraska Chamber Foundation, we believe strong communities begin with informed and engaged citizens, and Mya's achievement is a wonderful example of that,” Tera Norris, Nebraska Chamber Foundation president, shared. “The talent, preparation, and passion displayed by Mya and all of the finalists were truly inspiring. These students demonstrated a remarkable understanding of how government works and how individuals can make a positive impact in their communities. Mya's success highlights the value of civic education and reflects the bright future of civic leadership in Nebraska. We are honored to celebrate her accomplishment and cheer her on in Washington, D.C., this October.”

For Mya, the experience was unforgettable and, in her eyes, a can’t-miss opportunity for GIPS students in the future. Not just for the fun factor — because the chance to speak on your passion can make a difference.

“If you have something that you're passionate about, take it as far as you can and see what happens,” Mya reflected. “[The Civics Bee] was probably the best experience out of the school year. Just getting to be with people who have interests along the same line as you and are the same age as you; the experiences outside the competition as well… It was really fun. So yeah, just do it.”

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