Farmington Eighth-Grader's Civics Knowledge Earns Her Trip To National Competition

FARMINGTON/WEST HARTFORD/HARTFORD, CT — A Farmington student attending Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford will represent Connecticut at the National Civics Bee after winning the state's top prize in the competition's Connecticut finals.

Nina Mattamana, an eighth-grade student, took first place at the National Civics Bee Connecticut State Finals on June 6 at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford.

With the victory, Mattamana earned a spot in the 2026 National Civics Bee national championship, which will be held in Washington, D.C., later this year.

“The competition was such an amazing experience,” Mattamana said. “I was really overjoyed, and I’m really excited to be going to D.C.”

The National Civics Bee is an annual competition designed to encourage middle school students to engage in civics and become active participants in their communities.

Students from across Connecticut competed in regional events, with five advancing to the state finals.

Mattamana finished ahead of Kaden Hogan, a sixth-grader from Scotts Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield; Suhana Gutta, an eighth-grader from Bethel Middle School; Johnny Macias, a sixth-grader from Children’s Community School in Waterbury; and Hanzala Shoaib, an eighth-grader from Chippens Hill Middle School in Bristol.

The CBIA Foundation for Economic Growth & Opportunity partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which organizes the National Civics Bee, to host regional competitions and the state finals.

“The CBIA Foundation is committed to growing the Connecticut economy,” CBIA Foundation Director Dustin Nord said. “We can’t do that without engaged citizens who are excited about the future, and I think that’s what the Civics Bee best represents.”

Modeled after traditional academic competitions such as spelling and geography bees, the National Civics Bee tests students' knowledge of civics while also asking them to develop ideas for improving their communities.

Mattamana’s winning essay focused on addressing food insecurity in Hartford.

“These students were incredibly well prepared and invested in the issues they are working on in their communities,” Nord said.

The competition was judged by Greater Hartford Gives President and CEO Jay Williams, Connecticut Democracy Center School Programs Coordinator Jason Pittner and ReadyCT Development Manager Jessica Callahan.

NBC Connecticut anchor Mike Hydeck served as host. Students also heard remarks from Connecticut State Department of Education Chief Academic Officer Irene Parisi and CBIA Policy Director Danielle Cloud.

To watch a video on the competition, click on this link.