150 Winners Selected for Inspiring Answers to the Question, “What Does America Mean To You?”

75 First-Place Awardees Win Field Trips to Iconic American Historical and Cultural Destinations This Summer

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--America250, the official national organization charged by Congress with commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, today proudly announced the 2025 “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 150 America’s Field Trip awardees hail from 41 states and 4 U.S. territories and were selected by a panel of current and former educators.

Thousands of students from all 50 states, 5 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia submitted writing and artwork to the 2024-2025 America's Field Trip contest. The seventy-five first-place awardees will embark on immersive, unforgettable field trips to iconic American historical and cultural sites this summer, with seventy-five second-place awardees each receiving a $500 cash award.​ This marks the second group of America’s Field Trip awardees recognized by America250 and follows the successful pilot program launched in 2024.

“America’s Field Trip is a transformative opportunity for students across the country to engage with our nation’s history in meaningful, lasting ways," said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. “Our tentpole programs are intentionally designed to be hands-on, educational and engaging. America’s Field Trip truly brings the story of America to life and allows a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students to experience American history and national treasures up-close.”

Each first-place awardee will choose one of the following specially-curated experiences:​

• Private tours of Boston Revolutionary War sites, including the Old North Church, the Paul Revere House, and Bunker Hill Monument
• Behind-the-scenes tour of the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and sleepover at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, DC
• Exclusive visits to two Washington, DC, institutions: a trip into the National Archives Vault and private tour of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
• Exclusive tour of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, and visit to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC
• Walking tour of historic Lower Manhattan and a performance and opportunity to meet the company of HAMILTON in New York CityStorytelling, history, and commemoration under the stars at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• Private tours of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, the International African American Museum, and the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, South Carolina
• Exclusive tours of the Alamo in San Antonio and the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas
• Backstage tour of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio
• Beyond the ropes tour of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Guided visit to Angel Island Immigration Station and candlelight tour of Fort Point at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California
• Private guided tour of Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming
• Ranger-led hikes and tours of the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado
• Private tour of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

The 2024-2025 contest was made possible through the support of Founding Sponsor BNY Mellon and educational partner Discovery Education.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of this year’s awardees,” said Jayee Koffey, Chief Enablement and Global Affairs Officer at BNY. “The creativity and passion of these students encapsulates the future spirit of our nation. As BNY continues to support America's 250th anniversary celebrations, we are proud to cheer on the future leaders of America.”

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

First Place Awardees

Alabama

Jaid S., 9th Grade, Helena

Ava H., 12th Grade, Madison

Arizona

Samarthya S., 3rd Grade, Chandler

Arkansas

Katherine Q., 12th Grade, Nashville

California

Melanie G., 4th Grade, Rancho Cordova

Mirabelle G., 4th Grade, Pasadena

Aadya K., 5th Grade, San Jose

Emelynn M., 5th Grade, Temecula

Parker S., 5th Grade, Murrieta

Sharon X., 5th Grade, Arcadia

Sophia C., 6th Grade, San Diego

Mason M., 7th Grade, Los Angeles

David K., 8th Grade, Manhattan Beach

Evelyn B., 10th Grade, Sacramento

Agnes Q., 12th Grade, South San Francisco

Colorado

Justin Y., 4th Grade, Denver

Annie S., 7th Grade, Thornton

Ava S., 7th Grade, Colorado Springs

Yufan L., 11th Grade, Colorado Springs

Delaware

Grace S., 9th Grade, Milton

Vivian W., 10th Grade, Hockessin

Florida

Abigail C., 3rd Grade, Ponte Vedra

Angel G., 4th Grade, Saint Augustine

Singita C., 8th Grade, Palm Beach Gardens

Georgia

Corrina T., 7th Grade, Winterville

Josiah C., 12th Grade, Lithonia

Guam

Yaxin L., 9th Grade, Dededo

Idaho

Tonya H., 6th Grade, Orofino

Haley H., 8th Grade, Orofino

Kanghyeon B., 8th Grade, Meridian

Illinois

Olivia H., 6th Grade, Aurora

Margot K., 11th Grade, Northbrook

Jack J., 12th Grade, Elgin

Kansas

Eleanor P., 5th Grade, Eastborough

Kentucky

Daanya R., 8th Grade, Lexington

Louisiana

Emory D., 3rd Grade, Madisonville

Nicholas N., 6th Grade, Metairie

Auralia S., 12th Grade, Barksdale Air Force Base

Massachusetts

Freya H., 4th Grade, Boston

Johan C., 8th Grade, Weston

Saachi M., 11th Grade, Hingham

Mississippi

Benjamin P., 11th Grade, Corinth

Brianna H., 11th Grade, Corinth

Missouri

Austin F., 8th Grade, Weldon Spring

New Jersey

Arjun K. , 5th Grade, Towaco

Nikita D., 5th Grade, Marlboro

Jayden A., 7th Grade, South Amboy

Anish G., 8th Grade, Basking Ridge

Yuna J., 8th Grade, Moorestown

Megan W., 12th Grade, Westfield

Parinita C., 12th Grade, Bridgewater

New York

Asia S., 7th Grade, Rifton

Eric B., 7th Grade, Rifton

Hannah B., 11th Grade, Chester

North Carolina

Zadie B. , 4th Grade, Charlotte

Kahlan V., 6th Grade, Hickory

Annie B., 8th Grade, Fayetteville

Northern Mariana Islands

Aileen K., 5th Grade, Tamuning

Ohio

Eva H., 5th Grade, Pataskala

Pennsylvania

Santino W., 4th Grade, McMurray

Toluwanimi F., 4th Grade, Philadelphia

Clara C. , 5th Grade, Fogelsville

Regan S., 7th Grade, Pittsburgh

Tennessee

Leslie C., 12th Grade, Antioch

Texas

Mia L., 3rd Grade, Arlington

Rehanika D., 4th Grade, Northlake

Liam B., 5th Grade, Houston

Emil M., 8th Grade, Houston

Lydia I., 8th Grade, San Antonio

Atharva E., 9th Grade, Wylie

U.S. Virgin Islands

Mirza B., 11th Grade, St. Thomas

Virginia

Aggie J., 4th Grade, Roanoke

Gloria A., 11th Grade, Midlothian

Simone H., 11th Grade, Haymarket

West Virginia

Juliann H., 10th Grade, Elkins

Second Place Awardees

American Samoa

Janae R., 5th Grade, Pago Pago

Fiao'o L., 11th Grade, Pago Pago

Arizona

Colton Z., 5th Grade, Mesa

Joanna H., 8th Grade, Chandler

Arkansas

Joah S., 8th Grade, Altus

California

Jackson W., 4th Grade, Hayward

Giovanni B., 6th Grade, Upland

Ian C., 7th Grade, Sylmar

Colorado

Grace H., 5th Grade, Colorado Springs

Elizabeth A., 7th Grade, Colorado Springs

Lucy L., 11th Grade, Colorado Springs

Connecticut

Miriam M., 6th Grade, Westport

Saige M., 12th Grade, Haddam

Florida

Savannah T., 4th Grade, Land O' Lakes

Madison R., 7th Grade, Lutz

Jessenia T., 11th Grade, Homestead

Hawaii

Peyton H., 8th Grade, Ewa Beach

Illinois

Maia S., 10th Grade, Belleville

Indiana

Jacob K., 5th Grade, Fishers

Kayla B., 10th Grade, Indianapolis

Kansas

Emerald R., 5th Grade, Wichita

Emma S., 5th Grade, St. Johns

Louisiana

Princeton H., 3rd Grade, Shreveport

Luke B., 4th Grade, Lockport

Paris N., 7th Grade, Gretna

Weston W., 9th Grade, Franklinton

Addison B., 12th Grade, Shreveport

Lily W., 12th Grade, Monroe

Maryland

Rachel K., 4th Grade, Ellicott City

Charlotte L., 8th Grade, Crofton

Massachusetts

Katherine C., 11th Grade, Hingham

Michigan

Aubreigh H., 9th Grade, New Hudson

Paytyn E., 9th Grade, South Lyon

Lucia H., 11th Grade, Augusta

Minnesota

Natalie S., 3rd Grade, Waverly

Mississippi

Chloe A., 11th Grade, Corinth

Kinley P., 11th Grade, Corinth

Camden L., 12th Grade, Corinth

Jayden T., 12th Grade, Corinth

Madison G., 12th Grade, Corinth

Missouri

Jase S., 5th Grade, Preston

Jody B., 7th Grade, St. Clair

Montana

Ethan K., 5th Grade, Belt

Nevada

Ian K., 10th Grade, Las Vegas

New Jersey

Ximena L., 5th Grade, Linwood

Christopher M., 6th Grade, Florham Park

Madison S., 8th Grade, Flanders

New Mexico

Alejandro G., 11th Grade, Albuquerque

New York

Kenneth Z., 4th Grade, Walden

Ava A., 5th Grade, Rifton

Aviana S., 5th Grade, Walden

Anmo G., 6th Grade, Manlius

Sabine S., 12th Grade, Goshen

North Carolina

McKenzy G., 6th Grade, Kinston

Brianna G., 12th Grade, Wilson

North Dakota

Korri C., 10th Grade, Drake

Northern Mariana Islands

Taemin P., 11th Grade, Saipan

Ohio

Aria H., 5th Grade, Springboro

Oklahoma

Miles S., 5th Grade, Broken Arrow

Pennsylvania

Quinton P., 7th Grade, North East

Judy A., 8th Grade, Willow Street

South Carolina

Titus W., 4th Grade, Bluffton

South Dakota

Hannah E., 7th Grade, Flandreau

Tennessee

Tilly B., 8th Grade, Knoxville

Texas

Logan H., 3rd Grade, Coleman

McKenna G., 5th Grade, Merkel

Langston B., 6th Grade, Leander

Maira S., 8th Grade, Sugarland

Utah

Audrey S., 5th Grade, Salt Lake City

Liam G., 6th Grade, Farmington

Virginia

Lincoln N., 4th Grade, Stafford

Mohammad O., 7th Grade, Vienna

Ivah K., 8th Grade, Henrico

Washington

Madeline J., 11th Grade, Bremerton

Wisconsin

Willow A., 8th Grade, Cassville

America250:

America250’s mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial. We aim to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite us as a nation. America250 will foster shared experiences that spark imagination, showcase the rich tapestry of our American stories, inspire service in our communities, honor the enduring strength, and celebrate the resilience of the United States of America.

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. Open until April 16th, 2025, this free contest invites students to participate and contribute to the national celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
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