Timber Ridge Middle School seventh-grader Aisha Chavda will represent Illinois in the National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C., in November.
Chavda won the Illinois State Civics Bee in Springfield on July 31 to earn a spot at the national competition. She also won $1,000.
The history buff won the local civics bee in May, which earned her a trip to the state competition and $500.
The National Civics Bee is open to sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students in participating states.
Chavda is nervous and excited to compete at the national level on November 10 and 11, 2025. She is also looking forward to doing some sightseeing while in Washington.
While Chavda knew that attending the national event was a possibility, she did not think it would actually happen.
“I didn’t think (competing would stretch this far, I thought it would be a little thing,” she said.
“And to say I won it, and now I’m going to Washington – it’s really crazy.”
Chavda was one of 14 students from across Illinois who competed for the chance to go to Washington.
The students participated in two rounds of multiple-choice questions about civics, said Jill Vancil, Business Services Coordinator for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, who managed the bee for Illinois.
The top five students advanced to the final round, where each student gave a three-minute pitch on their civics essay and answered questions from judges.
Chavda’s essay, which she wrote for the local competition, was on cyberbullying.
“We are proud and impressed with Aisha; she truly deserved to win first place,” Vancil said.
The national bee organization gives contestants a study guide which covers civics from the founding of the United States to the 2000s, Chavda said.
Her entire family is helping her study, Chavda said.
And while Chavda is hoping to win it big in Washington, she has her feet firmly planted on the ground.
“I'll be disappointed if I lose, but I got this far, and I can always try again next year.”