Cullen Perez state Civics Bee winner

What started as a simple suggestion quickly turned into an incredible journey for MacArthur Middle School student Cullen Perez, who is now preparing to represent the state at the National Civics Bee competition in Washington, D.C, this November.

Perez first entered the contest after someone suggested that he should try it. From there he found out what was required to be in the competition and began the process.

“You had to write an essay and then you went to the local qualifier and you competed against other people that were in it and then the top three went over to State,” Perez said. “Before you were actually in the competition, you had to write a 500-word essay about a problem in your town and how it was going to be solved and how and why it’s a problem. Then you had to go up and summarize your speech in two minutes.”

The competition was anything but easy, but Perez prepared for the big day. Competitors were provided with a study sheet that outlined the necessary things they needed to focus on in competition.

The experience was even more special for Perez because he was able to compete with a fellow student. Alghassim Diallo, a student at MacArthur Middle School also competed in the competition and finished in the top five.

“It was really nice because right as we went into the building I felt like I connected with him,” Perez said. “It felt like ‘Oh, I know how much this means to you and good luck, and I know you got this.’”

Perez’s hard work in preparing for the competition paid off as he won the competition. He received a $1,000 check and will compete at the national competition.

Perez is very proud of his accomplishment and is excited to represent the state in a positive light.

“It feels really nice because I represented Oklahoma in a good way and it really feels nice for my morale,” Perez said.

As he prepares for the next competition Perez plans to spread out his studying instead of cramming like he did for this one.

The overall experience of this competition has had a great impact on Perez and the importance of staying informed and engaged in the democratic process.

“I’m going to be 18 someday and I’m going to vote someday,” Perez said. “So if I stay informed on how this government works it’s definitely going to be beneficial. Without voting we can’t have a government that’s by the people and for the people.”