Two Barnwell County School District Students Shine in South Carolina's First Statewide National Civics Bee
![Two young women sit behind nameplates at a table in front of a plain brown wall.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1786121392/bsd45net/ao0ykivqw7xyadrchdpy/LandandTadamatla.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1786121392/bsd45net/ao0ykivqw7xyadrchdpy/LandandTadamatla.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1786121392/bsd45net/ao0ykivqw7xyadrchdpy/LandandTadamatla.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1786121392/bsd45net/ao0ykivqw7xyadrchdpy/LandandTadamatla.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1786121392/bsd45net/ao0ykivqw7xyadrchdpy/LandandTadamatla.png","width":1537}])
Barnwell County School District is celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of two rising ninth-grade students who represented their schools and Barnwell County in South Carolina's inaugural National Civics Bee State Finals. The event was held July 23 at the USC’s law school in Columbia and hosted by former South Carolina Governor and Nobel Peace Prize winner David Beasley.
Representing the district were Sarah Tadamatla, a rising ninth grader at Barnwell High School, and Cassie Land, a rising ninth grader at Williston-Elko High School. Both students earned their place among the state's top young civic leaders after advancing through a regional competition to compete in the first statewide National Civics Bee.
Superintendent Crissie Stapleton stated, “To have two of only seven students selected from across the entire state to compete in South Carolina's inaugural National Civics Bee State Finals is truly remarkable. We are incredibly proud of Sarah and Cassie for representing Barnwell County School District. Their success reflects not only their hard work and commitment to learning, but also the dedication of the educators and families who have encouraged them along the way.”
Sarah earned an impressive second-place finish in the statewide competition, demonstrating exceptional knowledge of government, history, civic engagement, and public speaking. Throughout the competition, students answered challenging civics questions before presenting proposals designed to address issues in their communities. Judges combined scores from both the written and presentation portions of the competition to determine the final rankings.
The National Civics Bee, organized in South Carolina by the South Carolina YMCA Youth and Government Program in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's National Civics Bee, encourages middle school students to become informed and engaged citizens by strengthening their civic knowledge, critical thinking, and leadership skills. This year marked the first time South Carolina hosted a statewide competition as part of the national initiative.
Both students exemplify the district's commitment to preparing students to become informed citizens and future leaders. Their success also highlights the importance of civic education and the positive impact young people can have when they become actively engaged in their communities.
Barnwell County School District congratulates Sarah and Cassie on their outstanding accomplishments and looks forward to seeing the many ways they will continue to make a difference in the future.
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Barnwell County School District Superintendent Office
Phone: (803) 541-3590
Email: BCSDNews@bcsd.net