Kennady Smith with Board Member Janet Jones

The Ray-Pec School Board on May 22 recognized the winner of the local Civics Bee competition.

Area 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students were invited to enter the Civics Bee competition by submitting an essay. The 20 highest-scoring essay entrants qualified for the live local round. Of the 20 students, 17 were from the Ray-Pec School District!

Those 20 students competed on March 27 at the local Civics Bee competition in Harrisonville.

  • 8th grader Kennady Smith from Ray-Pec South Middle School won first place and a $1,000 prize.

  • 8th grader Konnor Chipps from Ray-Pec East Middle School Student Konnor Chipps won second place and received a $500 prize. 

The third-place winner was Emilee Burkitt from Harrisonville, who received $250. 

These top three winners advance to the state finals, which take place sometime this summer. One finalist from each state receives a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for prizes at the National Championship in the fall.

Winner Kennady Smith is pictured with Board Member Janet Jones.