The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Students from nine Southeast Texas public high schools and four private high schools are set to compete in the 18th annual Regional Citizen Bee on Thursday, March 6, in the Performing Arts Center at Lamar State College-Port Arthur.

“Citizen Bee is a statewide civic education competition on America’s heritage,” said LSC-PA government instructor Mavis Triebel, coordinator of the regional competition. “This year’s contest covers the U.S. Constitution, important documents, people, issues, civic values and current events. All of the questions and answers are covered in the on-line study guide provided by the Bill of Rights Institute.”

Triebel said each school pays an entry fee and sends a team to the contest, but each student competes individually.

This year’s entries include public high school students from Port Arthur Memorial, Beaumont Central, Hamshire-Fannett, Bridge City, Kountze, Nederland, Orangefield, Sabine Pass and Vidor.

The private schools are Legacy Christian Academy School and Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School from Beaumont, Acorns to Oaks Academy from Damon and Community Christian School from Orange.

The contest includes a one-hour private written examination, followed by oral questions in a public forum on the stage of the 400-seat Lamar Theater.

The regional Citizen Bee is supported by a $5,000 grant from Total Petrochemicals USA Inc., marking the company’s 16th year as a sponsor. “The Citizen Bee experience involves teachers, families, and the community in the acquisition of knowledge and skills essential for effective citizenship, Triebel said. “It also is an opportunity to recognize academic achievement of young people.”

The top four contestants in this year’s regional contest will earn cash awards, with the first-place winner receiving $500 and second place $250.

The third-place winner will receive $125, while the fourth-place student will take home $75. All contestants will receive a Citizen Bee T-shirt.

The top contestant in the regional contest advances to the state competition in Austin in May. The top four state winners receive awards of $1,000, $750, $500 or $250.

For information, call Mavis Triebel at 984-6332.