18 First-Place Student Awardees from Across the Country Experienced Unforgettable Visits as Part of Nationwide Scholastic Contest
WASHINGTON, DC – America250, the official nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Semiquincentennial, recently hosted five unique Washington, DC experiences for student awardees of the first-ever “America’s Field Trip” to the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture Museum, the Library of Congress, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Archives. America’s Field Trip is a nationwide scholastic contest encouraging students to reflect on what America means to them, with first-place awardees taking part in unique experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites.
On July 15, first-place awardees Mina L., Mya F., Jerry P., and their guardians visited the National Museum of American History, where they saw the iconic artifacts of American culture with a tour of the Smithsonian’s entertainment collections, including objects from blockbuster Hollywood movies and more.
On July 20, first-place awardees Guiliane P., Taliesin Robert Allen R., and their guardians received a special tour of the powerful exhibits of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture.
On July 25, first-place awardees Helen A., Melina P., Kaylee C., Kate F., and their guardians took a unique tour of the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world. The students met the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, and took a tour through the hidden stacks and tunnels, as well as underground laboratories. They explored the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) through touch with a hands-on learning experience featuring a variety of items from the NLS collections, along with a tactile tour of the Library’s iconic Thomas Jefferson Building.
On August 1, first-place awardees Elizabeth B., Leila W., and their guardians visited the National Museum of Natural History, where they explored the museum before it opened to the public, from the Hope Diamond to the Nation’s T. rex.
On August 20, first-place awardees Trenton S., Amelie T., Sybil Z., Caroline H., Charli M., Shreya S., Charlee S., and their guardians received a VIP tour of the National Archives Museum, and saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. The tour also included a special visit to the vaults — almost never opened to the public — where students viewed historic treasures like General George Washington’s Oath of Allegiance Oath Card, the check that purchased Alaska, and more.
Students taking a tour of the Library of Congress.
Students and guardians getting an up-close view of the exhibits at the National Museum of Natural History.
Photo Credit: America250
More photos and videos from the Field Trip are available HERE.
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 first- and second-place awardees from 44 states and territories were selected by a panel of current and former educators. Below is more information on the eighteen students who visited Washington, D.C. and their submissions:
- Helen A., 7th Grade, Laveen, Arizona
- Shreya S., 7th Grade, Cupertino, California
- Charlee S., 5th Grade, Adel, Iowa
- Guiliane P., 11th Grade, Silver Spring, Maryland
- Sybil Z., 3rd Grade, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Jerry P., 12th Grade, Corinth, Mississippi
- Kaylee C., 6th Grade, Ellisville, Missouri
- Amelie T., 7th Grade, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Taliesin Robert Allen R., 5th Grade, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Mya F., 11th Grade, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Elizabeth B., 8th Grade, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Leila W., 9th Grade, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
- Charli M., 6th Grade, Lebanon, Tennessee
- Kate F., 10th Grade, Lehi, Utah
- Caroline H., 8th Grade, Laramie, Wyoming
- Trenton S., 7th Grade, Worland, Wyoming
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 later this September.
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About America250
America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in celebrating and commemorating the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is spearheaded by the congressionally-appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its sole-supporting nonprofit organization, America250.org, Inc., together known as America250. This multi-year effort kicked off with America’s Invitation on July 4, 2023: a national public engagement campaign inviting all Americans to share their stories and their hopes and dreams for the future of this country. Leading up to July 4, 2026, America250 is working to provide opportunities for all Americans to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look to the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. To learn more, visit America250.org, and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
America's Field Trip
Engaging students nationwide to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary!
This contest invites students in grades 3–12 to share their perspectives on what America means to them — and earn the opportunity to travel for field trip experiences at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.