Question: America will celebrate her 250th birthday on July 4, 2026! If you could go back in time and meet one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence for lunch, who would you choose? How did their actions and service contribute to our Country becoming independent?

Open to Grades 5 – 8. Length 300-1,000 words (depending on grade level, please check forms) Chapters are encouraged to contact their schools, community libraries, church and youth organizations early about participating. Chapters may reach out to students in the community and do not need to go through just the schools. Please stay within the state of your chapter in encouraging students to participate.

• Chapters may award a Bronze Medal to the chapter winners in each grade, a Chapter winner certificate and any other chapter-approved award. Chapters may also elect to award all participants a Certificate of Participation.
• States award a Silver Medal to the state winner in each grade, a state winner certificate, and other state-approved awards.
  
  

American History Video Contest

Chapters are encouraged to conduct the American History Video Contest, all grades 5-12 with two categories (5-8 & 9-12). The video may be written and acted out by no more than two students. The Video may be up to three minutes in length. Timing of the video begins when the first visual image appears or the first sound is heard, timing ends when the last visual image or sound ends, including source credits. The student must announce only the title of the video and the students name before starting the video, which does not count for the three minutes.

Please note that the entire video must be an original work written and created by the students if professional photos, film, media clips, images recorded music, or anything that is not copyright is used in the video. They must be properly credited in the source credits at the end of the video. The entire video must be the students original work and not buy a parent teacher tutor, AI or other helper each video must include a complete title page. (AHC - 1012)
Categories for this contest will be:

• STUDENTS IN GRADES 5, 6, 7, & 8 FOR 2025 – 2026 VIDEO TITLE: “LUNCH WITH A SIGNER” TOPIC: America will celebrate her 250th birthday on July 4, 2026! If you could go back in time and meet one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence for lunch, who would you choose? How did their actions and service contribute to our Country becoming independent?
• STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 -12 2025 -2026 VIDEO TITLE: “REVOLUTION ERA FIGURE:"___________ 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. Chapters are encouraged to contact their schools, community libraries, church and youth organizations early about participating. Chapters may reach out to students in the community and do not need to go through just the schools. Please stay within the state of your chapter in encouraging students to participate.
• One video at each grade level is selected as the chapter winner. The winner's video, title sheet, and three judges’ sheets, should be emailed to me, State Chairman American History, by January 15, 2026, for state competition. Please follow email rules.

• One video at each grade level is selected as the chapter winner. The winner's video, title sheet, and three judges’ sheets, should be emailed to me, State Chairman American History, by January 15, 2026, for state competition. Please follow email rules.
• States award a Silver Medal to the state winner in each grade, a state winner certificate, and other state-approved awards

Patriots of the American Revolution DAR (High School) Essay Contest

• Chapters are encouraged to promote the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest for grades 9,10,11,12.
• 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.
  
• One chapter winning essay is submitted to me, State Chair of American History by January 15, 2026. Please follow email rules.
  
  

• Chapters select one essay as the chapter winner. Chapters may award a chapter winner the certificate/bronze medal set and other chapter-approved awards. Chapters may also award each participant a Patriots of the American Revolution Essay Participation Certificate.
• At the State level, one Patriots of the American Revolution essay is selected as the State-level winner, and a certificate/silver medal set is presented and other state-approved awards.

• Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest flyer (AHC-1005)
• Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest instructions (AHC-1002)
• American History Committee Essay Contests Cover Sheet and Signature Form (AHC-1009)
• Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest Judge’s scoring (AHC-1003)

Women in American History

The emphasis of Women in American History is on the role of women, past and present, in American History. Chapters are encouraged to select a notable woman from their state or community to honor. March is officially “Women’s History Month,” so chapters may wish to use this occasion to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of the woman of their choice.

Chapters are encouraged to choose a woman to honor for this recognition by taking into consideration women who have made a contribution or a difference in their communities. She could be a historical figure or currently alive and worthy of recognition. Look for women who are, or have been, intellectual, educational, social, religious, political, scientific, or cultural innovators. The woman or women being honored may be DAR members, prospective DAR members, or non-members. You may select more than one woman to honor. Recognition should include the presentation of the Women in American History certificate and the Women in American History medal. Both the certificate and medal are sold as a set. If framed together, the medal and certificate would be suitable for both living or deceased and could be presented to family or given to the chapter or state to hold in its archives if no family is available. Publicity in the form of a letter to the editor of a local newspaper or the publishing of an article on the woman is encouraged. Also consider media publicity: radio, TV, and newspaper coverage of the event.

It is essential that when the chapter is preparing the write-up that the emphasis is on the primary activity for the woman or women recognition. Chapters have had luncheons, teas, programs - literary and musical - at special locations to specifically honor their selected woman or women in American History. If alive, the honoree(s) should be invited to the chapter function so that special tribute can be paid. Each chapter honoring a woman is asked to prepare a report about her, up to 100 words, with a photo, if available. These reports may be sent throughout the year to the state American History chairman. State chairmen may send the reports as they receive them to the national vice-chairman. A database of women honored for the year is compiled from these reports and published on the website with quarterly updates to the database throughout the year.

Chapters may recognize an outstanding student of American History (separate from participation in one of the American History contests) who is brightening their community through active engagement with American History. The student may be recognized with a certificate of award and/or a bronze medal.

Chapters may determine eligibility and criteria for this award for any student in any grade. Thank You for Supporting Our Students as We look forward to a wonderful year!
Be a Shining Star!

HUZZAH!

Karen Meurer