The Santa Maria Valley Chamber is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural Regional Civics Bee, held May 9th to celebrate civic knowledge and community leadership among local youth. Thira Ager, an 8th-grader from Heartland Charter School, took home the first-place prize, while Annie O’Brien, a 7th-grader at Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic School, earned second place.
Both finalists will advance to the California State Civics Bee, which takes place on June 27, 2026, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
“We are incredibly proud of Thira and Annie for their dedication to understanding the foundations of our democracy,” said Michael Boyer, President & CEO of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber. “An informed and active citizenry is the backbone of a strong country and a thriving local economy. By investing in these young leaders, we are ensuring the future prosperity of our local communities across the Central Coast.”
The competition reached its peak during the third round, where students presented solutions to critical local issues they identified in their qualifying essays.
Thira Ager, who earned the $500 first-place prize, addressed the challenge of homelessness in her community. She advocated for the principles of “consent of the governed” and “respect,” proposing that effective policy can only be created by engaging in direct, dignified conversations with unhoused individuals to understand their specific needs. “It was a really cool opportunity to get to share what I think would make my city and town a better place using civics,” Ager said. “It made me think really deeply and understand things about how policies work that I really had no idea about before.”
Annie O’Brien, the second-place winner of $250, identified a lack of safe, dedicated spaces and activities for teenagers in the Santa Maria and Orcutt area. Her solution involved a partnership between local schools and colleges to create affordable after-school programs where older students mentor younger peers in creative arts and outdoor activities.
“My favorite part of the whole program was getting to talk about my idea with the judges in front of everyone,” O’Brien noted. “I feel like I really know how my city works now. I know more about history and civics, and I just feel smarter.”
The Chamber extends its gratitude to the distinguished panel of judges who evaluated the students:
● Ellen Barger, Associate Superintendent, Santa Barbara County Education Office.
● Marga Cooley, Executive Editor, Santa Maria California News Media, Inc.
● Glenn Morris, President/CEO, Western Association of Chamber Executives.
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber also offers a special thank you to the City of Santa Maria for generously hosting the competition at City Hall, and to Chuen Wu, Assistant City Manager for the city of Santa Maria, for providing the event’s opening remarks.
“Local government is simply neighbors coming together to solve problems,” noted Wu during his remarks. “Thira and Annie have proven today that they are not just residents—they are active participants in our community’s success.”
About the Santa Maria Valley Chamber
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber is committed to fostering a thriving, inclusive, and resilient community by investing in the next generation of leaders.
About the National Civics Bee
The National Civics Bee, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, was created to ensure that the next generation of Americans understands how our democracy works and how to play an active role in it.