Arvada 7th grader wins Colorado Civics Bee

Sriram Yalavarthy outpaces 15 finalists to claim $1,000 prize

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Local 7th grader Sriram Yalavarthy had an impressive showing at the rst-ever Colorado Civics Bee, besting 15 nalists to win rst place and win the $1,000 prize at the May 19 Civics Bee nals.

District 20 Representative Don Wilson and Metropolitan State Uni- versity Professor Robert Preuhs were among the judges for the competition, which featured a live quiz-show style format. e Civics Bee was put on by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. e wise-beyond-his-years middle schooler said his ambition changes frequently, but he currently wants to be a news reporter when he grows up.

Yalavarthy, who attends Drake Middle School, said his love for social studies began by watching “ e Nightly News with Lester Holt” with his family every night.

“Watching real-life events unfold has prompted me to gain an interest in civics,” Yalavarthy said.

Yalavarthy said that he reviewed United States history and the Constitution to prepare for the nals of the competition. He also credited teachers from Drake and West Woods Elementary School with helping him prepare.

He said his favorite question of the competition was correctly identifying Marbury v. Madison as the landmark Supreme Court case that de ned the high court’s role in the U.S. government, which Yalavarthy said was his favorite prompt because it validated Yalavarthy’s studies of landmark Supreme Court cases.

“I was really surprised when they announced that I was the 2023 Colorado State Civics Bee champion because all the nalists were so talented,” Yalavarthy said.