Twelve First-Place Student Awardees from Across the Country Experienced Unforgettable Visit as Part of Nationwide Scholastic Contest
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – America250, the official nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Semiquincentennial, hosted a unique experience in San Francisco for the winners of the first-ever “America’s Field Trip” contest on August 10. America’s Field Trip is a new, nationwide scholastic contest encouraging students to reflect on what America means to them, with first-place awardees taking part in special experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites.
During the evening field trip, America250 Chair Rosie Rios and the 3rd-12th grade student awardees, joined park rangers for a special candlelight tour of Fort Point at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge and learned about West Coast history. After the tour, the students were guided up to the roof of the fort for an up-close view of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. This trip marked several firsts for some of the students—first time in California for many, first time seeing the ocean, and the first time flying on a plane for some.
More photos and videos from the Field Trip are available HERE.
Above: The student awardees and America250 Chair Rosie Rios view the Golden Gate Bridge from the roof of Fort Point.
Below: The student awardees on a candlelight tour of Fort Point.
Photo Credit: America250
Earlier this year, thousands of students from states and territories across the country submitted inspiring entries in response to the prompt, “What does America mean to you?” for the inaugural America’s Field Trip contest.
Out of those submissions, 150 students from 44 states and territories were selected by a panel of current and former educators as first- and second-place awardees. Below is more information on the 12 students who visited San Francisco and their submissions:
- Camdyn M., 11th Grade, Chelsea, Alabama
- Britney C., 10th Grade, Phoenix, Arizona
- Aiyana B., 11th Grade, Sacramento, California
- Yva C., 12th Grade, Miami Lakes, Florida
- Emily W., 3rd Grade, Peabody, Massachusetts
- Julia P., 10th Grade, Humansville, Missouri
- Ginger C., 7th Grade, Salem, New Jersey
- Benjamin M., 12th Grade, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Sara M., 11th Grade, Mosley, Virginia
- Morgan L., 12th Grade, Lake Orion, Michigan
- Juweriya S., 10th Grade, Frederick, Maryland
- Cambrie B., 11th Grade, Richland, Michigan
The full list of 2024 awardees and their submissions can be found online here: america250.org/fieldtrip/awardees. The contest will continue in 2025 and 2026, with next year’s contest launching this September.