Two Waterbury Students; One from Torrington Head to Statewide Civics Bee Competition
WATERBURY—Two Waterbury students, along with a student from Torrington Middle School, were among the top contenders Thursday night at a civics bee competition that was part of an initiative by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and organized locally by the Waterbury Regional Chamber in partnership with CBIA and the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. The students will now head to a statewide competition that will be held on June 18, 2024 at the Legislative Office Building.
Finishing in first place was Wallace Middle School Academic Academy student Adriana Bueno; 2nd place: Muhammad Ibrahim from Wendell Cross; and third place: Avery Mazzacane from Torrington Middle School. Students were awarded prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250, respectively.
The event in Waterbury was held in Veterans’ Memorial Hall at City Hall and featured 13 middle school students from across New Haven and Middlesex counties. The law firm Secor, Cassidy & McPartland, P.C. sponsored the event.
Earlier this year, students in grades six through eight from across New Haven and Middlesex Counties submitted essays sharing ideas for improving their communities and showing their enthusiasm for civic duty. The national competition will be held later this summer in Washington, D.C.
A variety of civic and business leaders from across the region helped to judge the essays. The judges included Bill Palomba, Marketing Director at Blasius Chevrolet Cadillac and the Chairman of the Waterbury Regional Chamber; Dan Bartholomew of The Bartholomew Agency; Attorney David Bozzuto from Secor, Cassidy, & McPartland, P.C.; Alderman Sean Mosley; Arienne Orozco, Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State Office.
