Citizen Nation

Meet the teenage students who will compete in a year-long civics competition. Two teams from Wyoming embody the state’s independent spirit. A Las Vegas team has students whose families are recent immigrants from Nigeria, Thailand, the Philippines and Mexico. Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Va., is defending its national championship.

Pressure heats up as contestants tackle the first round of a national civics competition. A student from Virginia casts his first vote – for his father, a candidate and also the coach of a rival team. West Virginia students remain steadfast in their plan to overcome hardship and attend college. One team must persevere after a deadly shooting at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

The stakes are high as teams prepare for a statewide civics competition; only the winners will advance to the final round in Washington, D.C. Star students from Wyoming, Nevada and Virginia push themselves to the limit. A strong new contender, a team from Wisconsin, threatens an upset until its showcase event is derailed by a blizzard.

As the final round of the national civics competition approaches, students grapple with what it means to come of age in a contentious political environment. At a thrilling showdown in the heart of Washington, D.C., the finalists are jittery and dressed in their best as they prepare for the judges’ last barrage of critical questions about democracy. A champion is crowned.