Xavier Charter School team wins 2026 “We the Students” Civics Bowl

Xavier 1, a team from Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls, Idaho—comprised of Vita Wyatt, Grace Achurry-Guerry, Olivia Aiello, and Eleanor Nunnelley—won the 2026 “We the Students” Civics Bowl Saturday, a statewide competition held at the Idaho State Capitol as part of the America 250 celebration.

The Civics Bowl brought together eight teams from across the Mountain West for a fast-paced, buzzer-based competition testing their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, American government, and the principles of self-government.

Originally announced as a $5,000 grand prize, the stakes rose just moments before the competition began when a generous MSPC donor contributed an additional $2,000, bringing the total prize to $7,000.

Over the course of six rounds and more than 150 questions, students competed on topics ranging from the Constitution and the structure of government to key moments in American history.

In a dramatic finish, the championship round featured an all–Xavier Charter School matchup, with two teams from Twin Falls competing head-to-head for the title. After a closely contested final moderated by Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield, Xavier 1 claimed the Civics Cup and the $7,000 grand prize, earning recognition for their achievement.

“Xavier 1 demonstrated not just knowledge, but the ability to think critically about the ideas that shape our country,” said Chris Cargill, President of Mountain States Policy Center. “At a time when civic literacy is more important than ever, it’s encouraging to see students engage so deeply with the Constitution and the responsibilities of citizenship.”

The Civics Bowl is designed to make civics education engaging and accessible, emphasizing teamwork, quick thinking, and real-world application of civic knowledge. Students competed in a tournament-style format featuring live questions, buzzer rounds, and bonus challenges that tested both speed and depth of understanding.

The competition is part of the nationwide America 250 commemoration and aims to prepare the next generation of informed citizens by bringing civic learning to life in a dynamic, competitive setting.

The runner-up team, Xavier 2, was comprised of Chase Knight, Brooklyn Hill, Zeb Wyatt, and Jacob Ahrens, and was recognized for its strong performance in the final round.

MSPC created the “We the Students” Civics Bowl to expand civic literacy across Idaho and the Mountain West to provide students with an opportunity to engage directly with the ideas that underpin American democracy.

For more information about the Civics Bowl and future competitions, visit:https://www.mountainstatespolicy.org/wethestudents