Education Contests, Awards, and Resources for Students and Teachers

The Old 96 District Chapter, DAR, offers several educational contests and awards for students at all levels. These contests and awards are open to students in public, private, or parochial schools, and homeschooled. Contests are conducted without regard to race, religion, sex, or national origin.

Contact the Old 96 District Chapter, DAR for more information about these great opportunities for students and teachers.

Student Opportunities

Junior American Citizens

A program for preschool through 11th grade. This committee promotes civics education, American heritage and history, love of country and service. Through JAC clubs and contests, America’s children learn: the principles of our democratic government and appreciation for our great country. Through these opportunities and recognition of the student's work, this committee hopes to encourage today's Junior American Citizens - the future leaders of our country.

The JAC Committee sponsors contests in art, creative expression, and community service for preschoolers through grade 12.
Any child is eligible to participate in the contest. A child does not have to be a JAC club member or CAR member to enter.
2026 Contest Theme: "A Symbol of Independence: The Statue of Liberty Illuminating the Path to Freedom for 140 years."

For more inforamtion, Chapter Contest Deadline December 1.

American History Essay Contest

All 5th-8th grade students in a public, private, or parochial school, or those who are in registered home school programs are eligible. If you have an interested student, please contact a local DAR Chapter to get more specific resources. One essay at each grade level will be selected as the chapter winner and forwarded to the state competition. Deadline to Chapter - November 1

2026-2027 ESSAY TITLE: Announcement of the Declaration of Independence First Public Reading

Question: To announce independence from Great Britain, the Declaration of Independence was publicly read in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. Following this reading, the word spread throughout the colonies in newspapers, more public readings, and posted notices. Imagine you lived in Philadelphia or an area of the colonies where news did not reach you for weeks. How would you react to hearing the Declaration read in your community? With whom would you share the news? What action would you take after hearing it? How would this have impacted your life? Length of essay is 300-1,000 words (depending on grade level, please check forms - contact us for more information)

DAR Youth Leadership Medal

The DAR Youth Leadership Medal may be awarded to a boy or girl in grades 5 through 11. (One medal per grade per school.) The medal may also be awarded to youth service and patriotic organizations, or members, who fulfill the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism, such as scouts, police cadets, and other community service organization. Deadline to Chapter - November 1

Special High School Opportunities

Patriots of the American Revolution DAR
High School Essay Contest

Established in 2021, this high school-level essay contest focuses on the men and women, both famous and unknown, who contributed and supported the American Revolution.

The contest is open to students in grades 9th -12th in public, private, or parochial schools, or those who are in registered home school programs. Contact Old 96 District Chapter For More Information. Deadline to Chapter - November 1

Topic:
Select a figure from the era of the American Revolution (1773-1783). Discuss how he or she influenced the course of the American Revolution, who he or she was and his/her contribution to the founding of a new nation. Figures may be any person, whether a well-known figure or an everyday man, woman, or child who supported the American Revolution in ways large or small.

Students are encouraged to use primary sources (i.e. immediate, first-hand accounts such as letters, diaries speeches, or newspaper reports) for their research. Lesser-known figures are acceptable, but subjects must have been actual participants, i.e. not fictional.

DAR Good Citizens
Awards
& Scholarship Contest

12th Grade: The DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. This award recognizes and rewards individuals who possess good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities. These students are selected by their teachers and peers because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree.

College Scholarships

DAR Scholarships

The NSDAR offers several scholarships for the general public and for DAR members, their children or descendants in many different undergraduate and graduate fields of study, including, but not limited to: medical doctor, nursing, occupational therapy, elementary or secondary teaching, law school, business, chemistry, math, music, science, English, American Studies, American history, political science, economics., U.S. government, American literature, American art history, archives management, historic preservation, music or culture.
Check out the NSDAR Scholarship Opportunities.

Especially For Teachers

Community Classroom

The Community Classroom Committee provides lesson plans focusing on America, its history, government, language, and math. These lesson plans will be available for all teacher and will be readily accessible so that teachers will be able to easily select those that meet their needs. Check out the Lesson Plans available.

The DAR offers “American Revolution Legacy Grants” of up to $5,000 that support educational initiative or student programs, enhance student academic performance, and reward creative approaches to support higher levels of student learning.

DAR Museum

The DAR Museum has created inquiry-based lessons that help foster historical empathy in the classroom and show students how to create evidence-backed interpretations of American history. The DAR Museum also has a Portable Education Program (PEP) which allows the museum to come to you. Check out the teacher resources.

E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative
E Pluribus Unum - Honoring Our Patriots

Outstanding American
History Teacher

The Outstanding Teacher of American History contest honors notable full-time teachers of history (and related fields such as social studies, government, and citizenship education) in public, private, and parochial schools, grades 5-12. These teachers have demonstrated excellence in:

*Readily sharing an incisive knowledge of American History
*Being committed to their student
*Fostering a spirit of patriotism and loyal support of our country
*Relating history to modern life and events
*Requiring high academic standards at all times from their student

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