National Civics Bee California State Finalist Drives Change

Logan T., winner of the 2026 National Civics Bee® California State Finals, spent his summer focused on making a difference in the lives of his classmates. 

Through the National Civics Bee, Logan found a way to connect his interest in history with civic action.  

“Through my participation, I’ve not only learned much more about history and America’s founding, but I’ve also learned just how easy it is to get involved and make a difference in your community,” Logan said. “I really hope that more young people will take this opportunity.” 

Before discovering the Bee, Logan was already helping the people around him. He began tutoring classmates, an experience that opened his eyes to the impact creative learning strategies can have on student success. As he worked with his peers, he noticed that students often learn best when lessons are presented in ways that are more interactive, creative, and engaging. 

 Logan’s research also showed that these approaches can increase student grades by over 15%, “which can mean the difference between a C and an A.” 

Those lessons became the foundation for his application essay. Drawing from what he had seen firsthand, Logan proposed the gradual implementation of creative learning methods in classrooms, including mind mapping, thought experiments, and gamification. His idea focused on helping students better understand and retain information by making learning more active and accessible. 

The competition also helped Logan understand how civic engagement can move an idea from the classroom into the community. Through the National Civics Bee, he learned “how easy it is to contact elected representatives and community leaders,” an important step that helped him build support for his proposal. 

Since then, Logan has shared his ideas and garnered support from his district superintendent, county superintendent, and the Creative Education Foundation. By reaching out to education and civic leaders, he is continuing to promote the implementation of his solutions. 

His experience reflects one of the core lessons of the National Civics Bee: young people can identify problems, develop thoughtful solutions, and take meaningful steps to make those ideas a reality. He believes more young students should get involved in civics because “It’s really important to be able to voice your concerns, especially to community leaders, because a lot of times that’s just the kickstart that your project needs to be able to succeed.”