“A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?”
― George Washington, final State of the Union address, December 7, 1796
Our founders knew that education was the foundation for our liberty. Rigorous, merit-based standards weren’t just a value to them; they were their ethos. They knew that only through a grounded, fact-based education could the heirs of the revolution carry our nation to greatness. This same spirit is why, in December 2025, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Presidential 1776 Award. This first-of-its-kind national scholarship competition for high school students commemorates America’s upcoming 250th birthday (the Semiquincentennial) and offers a total scholarship pool of $250,000. Earning the distinction will be demanding: only the top three students will receive scholarships recognizing their exceptional achievement.
With the support of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation and EBSCOed, the Department has developed a three-round competition to assess students’ objective knowledge of American founding-era history, Revolutionary battles, and the civic foundations of our government. All questions were written by America’s leading history and civics educators and are based on historical primary source documents.
As James Madison emphasized in an 1822 letter, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” By encouraging students to delve into primary historical documents and to uncover the civic foundations of our government, the Presidential 1776 Award arms the next generation with precisely this power, equipping them to engage the past honestly and lead responsibly.
The Presidential 1776 Award is intentionally rigorous. The first-round qualifying online exam—nicknamed The Impossible Civics Test—gives students 90 minutes to answer as many multiple-choice questions as possible. This level of rigor is not designed to discourage participation, but to signal the seriousness of the endeavor and to honor the students who voluntarily undertake it. Students are invited to test the limits of their preparation and persistence, learning through experience that meaningful achievement requires sustained effort.
As we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Presidential 1776 Award invites students, educators, parents, and schools to recommit to excellence in the study of American history. By encouraging careful scholarship, disciplined learning, and an honest engagement with the past, the Award supports a vision of education that prepares students to understand their country fully and to lead it responsibly in the 250 years ahead.
The Presidential 1776 Award reflects a belief central to American education: that informed students become patriotic citizens, and patriotic citizens are essential to the future of the Republic.
If you and your students are up for the challenge, we encourage you to register today:
