Ava Bogard of Calloway County Wins 2025 National Civics Bee Kentucky State Finals

The Kentucky Chamber Foundation hosted the 2025 National Civics Bee Kentucky State Finals on August 21, where middle school students participated in live quiz events to test their civics knowledge and presented on issues facing their communities in front of a panel of judges.

The statewide event, held at the Kentucky State Fair, followed local competitions hosted by chambers across the state this spring. The top three finalists from each regional competition were invited to the Kentucky State Finals.

Ava Bogard of Calloway County was named the winner of the competition, with Phoenix Hurtgen of Taylor County placing second, and Lucy Reynolds of Taylor County placing third.

Bogard will represent Kentucky at the National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C., this fall.

Bogard focused her presentation on felon disenfranchisement, emphasizing that Kentucky is one of only two states without a path to restore voting rights, leaving 4.7% of Kentuckians unable to vote.

“Restoring voting rights gives people the power to invest in a new future and change their circumstances. Their success becomes community success. Lower recidivism means reducing crime, saving tax dollars, and strengthening the workforce. Clearly, ending felony disenfranchisement and restoring voting rights is not only about justice, but about building stronger communities in our state,” Bogard said in her speech.

The National Civics Bee Kentucky State Finals judges were Kentucky Secretary of State Senior Advisor Greg McNeill, Kentucky Chamber Executive Committee Member Les Fugate of Brown-Forman, Kentucky Chamber Foundation Board Member Kim Baker of Kentucky Performing Arts, LaKisha Miller of the Kentucky Chamber Foundation, and 2024 Civics Bee State Champion Ava June Tackett of Johnson County.

The National Civics Bee is 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 hosted by the Kentucky Chamber Foundation seeks to 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.

“We are proud to be taking steps to get more young people engaged in issues that are important to all of us,” said Beth Davisson, Senior Vice President of the Kentucky Chamber Foundation. “We want middle school students across Kentucky to see that civic engagement isn’t just something for adults. It starts with them. We hope the Civics Bee sparks curiosity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of how their voice and actions can shape their communities.”