20 New Jersey Students Selected for Inspiring Answers to the Question, “What Does America Mean to You?” 

September 22, 2026 (Trenton, NJ) – – RevolutionNJ, together with America250, the official national organization charged by Congress with commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, has announced the 2026 “America’s Field Trip” awardees. America’s Field Trip is a nationwide contest inviting students in grades 3–12 to reflect on the question: “What does America mean to you?” The 250 America’s Field Trip awardees hail from 42 states, three U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. Twenty students from New Jersey were selected as winners.

America’s Field Trip has been building momentum over three contest years as one of America250’s signature education programs, advancing the organization’s mission to educate, engage, and unite Americans in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary. Since its 2024 pilot program, the nationwide student contest has received more than 20,000 entries, including more than 10,000 submissions this year alone. With this year’s class, America250 will have recognized 550 young people total through America’s Field Trip, including 275 first-place winners receiving once-in-a-lifetime trips and 275 second-place winners receiving cash prizes.

The 2026 entrants represented all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. A panel of current and former educators selected the 2026 honorees, the largest class of awardees yet: 250 students representing 46 states and U.S. territories. This includes 125 first-place awardees (41 elementary school students, 42 middle school students and 42 high school students) who traveled on one of 16 once-in-a-lifetime field trip experiences this summer. An additional 125 second-place awardees (42 elementary school students, 42 middle school students and 41 high school students) will receive a $500 cash award and America250 gear.

“Through essays, songs, and works of art, New Jersey students responded to the question ‘What does American mean to you?’ with messages of hope and celebrations of unity,” said New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell who oversees the New Jersey Historical Commission in his role as Secretary of State. “Their creativity, insights, and engagement with the ideals of the American Revolution culminated into an inspiring group of projects highly deserving of this national prize.”

“Since the first America’s Field Trip contest, New Jersey students have excelled, with the state being among the top in the nation for the highest number of awardees,” said executive director of the New Jersey Historical Commission, Sara Cureton. “We are thrilled to see this tradition continue and are excited to foster student engagement with the past through RevolutionNJ’s wide array of educational initiatives.”

The awardees from New Jersey include:

First Place

• Dhruv S., 4th Grade, Belle Mead
• Benjamin K., 5th Grade, Linwood
• Ava R., 6th Grade, Ringwood
• Breanna H., 6th Grade, River Edge
• Nidhi R., 6th Grade, Passaic
• Penelope K., 6th Grade, Haddon Township
• Abitha N., 7th Grade, Basking Ridge
• Harrison C., 8th Grade, Upper Saddle River
• Veer S., 8th Grade, Belle Mead,
• Amanda D., 9th Grade, Audubon,
• Crysillynn-Victoria M., 12th Grade, Willingboro,
• Joy T., 12th Grade, Randolph

Second Place

• Nathan K., 4th Grade, Jersey City
• Eftihia P., 5th Grade, Jersey City
• Nolan M., 5th Grade, Linwood
• Disas J., 8th Grade, Phillipsburg
• Julianny C., 8th Grade, Jersey City
• Sai Samyukta G., Piscataway
• Mariam E., 10th Grade, Jersey City
• Lucas F., 11th Grade, Wayne

For a full list of awardees and a selection of winning submissions, please visit america250.org/fieldtrip/awardees.

Each first-place awardee participated in one of the following specially curated trips taking place across 12 states and Washington, D.C., July 10–August 16, 2026. The Semiquincentennial itineraries feature several new experiences created for this milestone year along with returning favorites from previous contests, including:

• Alabama: Immersive Revolutionary War experience at the American Village and a special guided tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• Atlanta, Georgia: Visit the Coca-Cola Company’s headquarters, Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
• Boston: Go behind the scenes at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum and learn all about Boston’s Revolutionary War landmarks — from Bunker Hill to Dorchester Heights and the Boston Harbor
• Charleston, South Carolina: Private tours of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, the International African American Museum, and the South Carolina Aquarium
• Dallas, Texas: Exclusive guided visit to the all-new National Medal of Honor Museum, plus a VIP experience at the George W. Bush Presidential Center and Library
• Florida: Private guided tour and meet a retired astronaut at Kennedy Space Center
• Montana and Wyoming: Exclusive guided journey through Yellowstone National Park
• New Orleans, Louisiana: A captivating adventure through history, culture, and cuisine
• New York City: Exclusive visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, walking tour of historic Lower Manhattan, and a performance of HAMILTON
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Beyond the ropes tour of Independence National Historical Park and the Philadelphia Mint
• San Francisco, California: Guided visit to Angel Island Immigration Station and candlelight tour of Fort Point beneath the Golden Gate Bridge
• South Dakota and North Dakota: Storytelling, history, and commemoration under the stars at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, and an adventure through the Badlands of North Dakota exploring the presidential legacy of Theodore Roosevelt
• Washington, D.C.: Exclusive visits to two iconic Washington, D.C., institutions: a special tour of the White House and a trip inside the vault of the National Archives on the National Mall
• Washington, D.C.: Behind the scenes tour of the brand new National Geographic Museum of Exploration and Smithsonian Sleepover at the American History Museum
• Virginia: Exclusive curator-led experiences at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC and George Washington’s Mount Vernon

“As the awardees return from their field trips, we encourage them to continue to explore and be inspired by the ideals of the American Revolution held in trust by New Jersey's — and the nation’s — amazing historic and cultural places,” said executive director of Crossroads of the American Revolution, Carrie Fellows.

“America’s Field Trip gives students a national platform to reflect on our country in their own words, through their own creativity and from the communities they call home,” said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. “As we prepare to commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary, these students remind us that America’s story is something each generation helps shape. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and give first-place awardees the chance to experience the people, places and ideas that have helped define our country.”

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About RevolutionNJ
RevolutionNJ is a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association to plan the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey. RevolutionNJ will advance the role that history plays in public discourse, community engagement, education, tourism, and scholarship in New Jersey. Through a series of initiatives that explore the history of the American Revolution, its context, and its legacy, RevolutionNJ will galvanize diverse audiences statewide into embracing the enduring value and relevance of history. Learn more at https://www.revnj.org/.

About America250
America250 is the national 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, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

About the America’s Field Trip Contest
America’s Field Trip Contest is a creative opportunity for students in grades 3–12 to reflect on what America means to them through original artwork or written responses. The contest encourages students from across the U.S. and its territories to share their vision of America’s values, history, and future.

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About the New Jersey Historical Commission
The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Established by law in 1967, its work is founded on the fundamental belief that an understanding of our shared heritage is essential to sustaining a cohesive and robust democracy.