2026 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest - Students Advance as Finalists

The 15 federal judicial districts in the Ninth Circuit have selected their local civics contest winners who are advancing as finalists in the preliminary round of the 2026 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest.

Congratulations to our Central District of California Winners

Essay Winners: First place ($1,000) - Aashka Bhuptani, Redondo Union High School, Redondo
Beach; Second place ($750) - Suah Jin, Sunny Hills High School, Fullerton; and Third place ($500)
- Audrey Chiang, Arcadia High School, Arcadia.

Video Winners: First place (Total of $1,000) - Mahima Wuppalapati, Portola High School, Irvine;
Second place ($750) - Katelyn Cheng, Trinity Pacific Christian School, Westlake Village; and Third
place ($500) - the team of Johann Benitez and Anamarys Cordero-Meraz, Alliance Judy Ivie Burton
Technology Academy High School, Los Angeles.

The theme of the 2026 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest is: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - Your Voice. Your Story. Your America." The theme celebrates the upcoming 250-year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.