Meet Peter Daniell, ninth-grader who beat 20,000 students to win $100,000 prize

A student from Colorado has won a national competition after exploring an issue affecting families across the United States: food insecurity. Peter Daniell, from Broomfield, emerged as the champion of the 2026 National Civics Bee, earning a $100,000 contribution to an education savings plan. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition drew around 20,000 students from 240 communities, with just 52 finalists advancing to the national championship in Washington, D.C. Daniell’s achievement highlights how young people can use civic knowledge to examine problems in their communities and consider ways to address them.From a community issue to the national championshipDaniell’s victory on October 14, 2026, followed several rounds of competition organised by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The National Civics Bee encourages middle school students to understand how government works and how citizens can contribute to improving their communities.