Jasper to compete in Citizen Bee

Students from 16 Southeast Texas high schools, including Jasper High School, will compete in the 17th annual Regional Citizen Bee March 8 in the Performing Arts Center at Lamar State College-Port Arthur.

"Citizen Bee is a civic education program and academic competition with questions about U.S. history, government, geography, economics and current events. It's designed to stimulate greater understanding of American heritage and the issues facing the United States," said LSCPA government instructor Mavis Triebel, coordinator of the regional competition.

Triebel said each school sends a team to the contest, but each student competes individually.

Citizen Bee includes a one-hour private written examination, followed by oral questions in a public forum on the stage of the 400-seat Lamar Theater.

This year's event is supported by a $5,000 grant from Total Petrochemicals USA Inc., formerly known as ATOFINA Petrochemical Inc.

The top contestants earn cash awards, with the first-place winner receiving $500 and second place $250. All contestants will receive a Citizen Bee T-shirt. The top two contestants in the regional contest advance to the state competition in Austin in May. The top four state winner receive awards of $1,000, $750, $500 or $250.

For information about the 2007 Regional Citizen Bee, call Mavis Triebel at 984-6332.