Constituting America
Constituting America fills a critical gap in public education by bringing constitutional learning directly to students. Constituting America is receiving the award for their initiative “Celebrating America's 250th Birthday In Our Nation's Classrooms and Living Rooms” which includes their George Washington Speaking Initiative, teaching public school students the relationship between the Constitution and the Declaration; their upcoming “History Holds the Key” online study, which will use constitutional essays to educate students and adults on the Declaration’s role; and "The Pursuit," a docuseries that will be produced in partnership with acclaimed filmmaker Micheal Flaherty that explores liberty, justice, faith, and meaning through the lives of historical and contemporary figures.
The Harlan Institute
The Harlan Institute brings a stylized law school experience into the high school classroom to ensure that our next generation of leaders has a proper understanding of our most fundamental laws. Their Fourteenth Annual Virtual Supreme Court competition, on track to launch in fall 2025, will transform the fight for independence into a moot court competition. They will situate the students on July 4, 1776: teams of high school students will be assigned to represent the Patriots or the Loyalists. The Harlan Institute will then hold a series of virtual rounds where teams will present oral arguments for and against independence before panels of lawyers, professors, and federal judges. The championship round will be held in late May or early June 2026 in Washington, D.C., just in time for the 250th Anniversary.
Mountain States Policy Center
With a headquarters in Idaho and coverage in Washington state, Montana, and Wyoming, Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC) is the first multi-state think tank of its kind, educating policymakers, the media, young leaders, and the rising generation of citizens on the power of free markets and limited government. MSPC is receiving their award for their project “We the Students: Mountain West Civics Cup,” a four-state (ID, MT, WA, WY) high-school competition that blends fast-paced quiz-bowl rounds with applied leadership challenges to improve students’ knowledge of the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Teams advance from virtual prelims to in-person state qualifiers and a livestreamed regional final, turning the Semiquincentennial into a public celebration of civic knowledge and civil discourse.
The Moving Picture Institute
The Moving Picture Institute (MPI) develops, produces, and distributes films that use the power of visual storytelling to educate people about what freedom is and why it matters. Their prize-winning film project, “Son of 1776” is about a teenage orphan who enlists in George Washington’s Continental Army. Embarking on a thrilling journey through the American Revolution, he witnesses history’s most defining moments and transforms from an outcast into a courageous leader who embodies the values of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. “Son of 1776” will introduce Gen Alpha to the pivotal events and courageous figures of the American Revolution.
Wedgwood Circle
Wedgwood Circle uses their extensive reach in the entertainment industry to empower, educate, and inspire communities to create and fund projects that matter. Their prize-winning graphic novel project, “Marblehead: The Untold Story of the Men in the Boat” tells the story of the Marblehead regiment, the first racially integrated unit in the American military. Their brotherhood proved vital on the Revolutionary battlefield and set the tone for other militia who exhibited far less professionalism and coordination. Wedgwood Circle is working with MORE Productions and a team of seasoned graphic novelists, educational consultants, publication experts and promotional strategists to bring this story to a mass audience. The graphic novel format will make the story accessible to a wide age range of readers and will lend itself well to film adaptation.
