An initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Kansas’ Hometown Hero

Rishaan’s path to becoming Kansas’ state champion in the National Civics Bee® began unexpectedly. His teacher incorporated the submission essay as part of a regular class assignment. “Once I started working on it, I got really interested in my topic, and I decided to submit it to the local chamber of commerce,” he shares.  

Rishaan was one of many Kansas middle schoolers making their debut in the National Civics Bee®. After qualifying at his local competition hosted by the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, he advanced to the Kansas State Finals organized by the Kansas Leadership Center. 

Rishaan chose to speak about a topic close to home: inadequate access to healthcare. “I chose that topic because I heard my parents, who are doctors, talk multiple times about problems in the hospital and staffing shortages,” he says. His research led him to eye-opening statistics: “I just found really interesting facts, like the fact that 50% of people in Kansas with health problems go without the health care they need.” 

Khan Academy’s AI-powered tutoring assistant Khanmigo was integral to Rishaan’s preparation for the Kansas State Finals. All finalists receive free access to Khanmigo along with study materials specifically designed to help them prepare for the live competitions. 

Now, Rishaan is gearing up for the big leagues – the National Civics Bee® National Championship in D.C. “I’m really excited,” he beams, “especially to represent Kansas and just to see the knowledge of other students from different states.” 

Rishaan’s impressive performance has not gone unnoticed at home. Recently, the Johnson County Bar Association invited him to present the essay that made him the Kansas State winner. As just a 7th grader, Rishaan answered several follow-up questions from members of the Bar to help him prepare for the national stage. Who knew homework could lead to such extraordinary opportunities? 

Most notably, his experience changed his perspective on how kids like him can get involved. “It helped me realize different ways that I can help with my community, different ways to interact, like holding fundraisers. It just helped me open my mind.” 

Looking ahead, while Rishaan dreams of becoming an engineer, don’t be surprised if you see him making waves in his community, too.