Supported by America’s Field Trip Founding Sponsor BNY1, 75 Students from 27 States & Territories Awarded Unforgettable Field Trip Experiences at Iconic American Landmarks as Part of Nationwide Scholastic Contest
Today, America250, the official nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, announced the inaugural cohort of “America’s Field Trip” awardees. America’s Field Trip is a new, nationwide scholastic contest encouraging students to reflect on what America means to them, with first-place awardees taking part in special experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites, and second-place awardees receiving $500 cash awards. The contest will continue in 2025 and 2026, with next year’s contest launching this September.
Thousands of students from states and territories across the country submitted incredible entries in response to the prompt “What does America mean to you?” Out of those submissions, 150 first and second awardees hailing from 44 states and territories were selected by a panel of current and former educators. The list of inaugural awardees can be found below, and their submissions can be found online here: america250.org/fieldtrip/awardees
First-place awardees will choose from the following unique and unforgettable field trip experiences this summer:
- Tour of the Statue of Liberty in New York
- Tour and hike at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana
- Weekend at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
- Unique tours at the National Archives and the Library of Congress in Washington, DC
- Special tours at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, or the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC
- Explore America's iconic financial capital, New York City, with private tours of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Museum and Learning Center and the New York Headquarters of BNY, the country's oldest bank
- Experience National Parks of Boston with a special visit to the USS Constitution and a sunset cruise to Spectacle Island
- Candlelight tour at Fort Point at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge
- Costumed roleplaying experience at American Village in Alabama
“We’re thrilled to announce the first-ever America’s Field Trip awardees – 75 incredible students from across the country who will now embark on transformative field trip experiences where they’ll experience history outside of the classroom," said America250 Chair, Rosie Rios. "We’re grateful for all of the students, teachers, and families who engaged around America’s Field Trip – one of the first big steps on our long journey together to the Semiquincentennial. As we advance toward July 4th, 2026, America’s Field Trip will only get bigger, engaging thousands of students around our collective history and giving them a platform to actively participate in envisioning our future."
America250 announced America’s Field Trip in cooperation with BNY, a global financial services company that played a pivotal role in the development, growth, and rise of the United States for 240 years. “The meaningful experiences these students will gain beyond the classroom by visiting iconic American sites will inspire them and all the lives they touch to advance the nation’s long history of innovation,” said Jayee Koffey, Global Head of Enterprise Execution and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for BNY. “We congratulate these students and their families and are honored to be part of their journey.”
First Place Awardees
ALABAMA Mary H., 3rd Grade, Birmingham Camdyn M., 11th Grade, Chelsea
ARIZONA Lyric S., 5th Grade, Phoenix Dorothy Z., 7th Grade, Chandler Helen A., 7th Grade, Laveen Britney C., 10th Grade, Phoenix
CALIFORNIA Faith S., 4th Grade, Long Beach Edward Z., 5th Grade, Manhattan Beach Aryan S., 6th Grade, Lakeforest Shreya S., 7th Grade, Cupertino Melina P., 8th Grade, San Francisco Mina L., 10th Grade, Huntington Beach Aiyana B., 11th Grade, Sacramento
FLORIDA Vincenzo F., 5th Grade, Boca Raton Itamar J., 5th Grade, Coral Springs Aaliyah V., 9th Grade, Lake Mary
Rayyan A., 9th Grade, Sarasota Yva C., 12th Grade, Miami Lakes
IDAHO Phoenix O., 8th Grade, Shoshone
ILLINOIS Leo A., 4th Grade, Oak Park Elia G., 9th Grade, Chicago
IOWA Charlee S., 5th Grade, Adel Maysen W., 5th Grade, Adel
KENTUCKY Pippy R., 4th Grade, Louisville
LOUISIANA Braydelii H., 5th Grade, Metairie
MARYLAND Anna W., 4th Grade, Clarksville Juweriya S., 10th Grade, Frederick Silas R., 10th Grade, Mount Airy Peony K., 10th Grade, Sykesville Guiliane P., 11th Grade, Silver Spring
MASSACHUSETTS Emily W., 3rd Grade, Peabody
MICHIGAN Camila S., 7th Grade, Allen Park Cambrie B., 11th Grade, Richland Morgan L., 12th Grade, Lake Orion
MINNESOTA Sybil Z., 3rd Grade, Minneapolis
MISSISSIPPI Andrew C., 12th Grade, Corinth Jerry P., 12th Grade, Corinth
MISSOURI Kaylee C., 6th Grade, Ellisville Natalie R., 8th Grade, Pleasant Hope Julia P., 10th Grade, Humansville
NEVADA Amelie M., 7th Grade, Las Vegas
NEW JERSEY Lulin L., 3rd Grade, Bridgewater Jace T., 6th Grade, Newark Ginger C., 7th Grade, Salem Malay G., 7th Grade, Edison Kadidiatou L., 12th Grade, Newark
NEW YORK Gabriel D., 5th Grade, Kerhonkson Kendyl C., 5th Grade, Kingston Audrey B., 5th Grade, New Paltz Gwen W., 5th Rifton Ryan Z., 5th Grade, Rifton Mckenna H., 6th Grade, Rifton Shrikar P., 7th Grade, Scarsdale Olivia F., 10th Grade, Brooklyn
NORTH CAROLINA Taliesin Robert Allen R., 5th Grade, Greensboro Elizabeth B., 8th Grade, Winston-Salem Mya F., 11th Grade, Raleigh
OKLAHOMA Anna S., 12th Grade, Glenpool
PENNSYLVANIA Lydia Z., 3rd Grade, Weatherly Alyssa B., 5th Grade, Oreland Alyssa Y., 6th Grade, Yardley Margaret F., 8th Grade, Chester Leila W., 9th Grade, Cranberry Township Benjamin M., 12th Grade, Pittsburgh
SOUTH CAROLINA Kiran Miles B., 4th Grade, Mount Pleasant
TENNESSEE Charli M., 6th Grade, Lebanon
UTAH Kate F., 10th Grade, Lehi
VIRGINIA Fiona M., 5th Grade, Alexandria James C., 5th Grade, Alexandria Evelyn M., 8th Grade, Williamsburg Sara M., 11th Grade, Mosley
WISCONSIN August B., 6th Grade, Plover
WYOMING Trenton S., 7th Grade, Worland Caroline H., 8th Grade, Laramie Grace B., 8th Grade, Laramie
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Second Place Awardees
AMERICAN SAMOA Margaret L., High School, Pago Pago Nathaniel S., High School, Pago Pago
ARIZONA Helen N., High School, Mesa
ARKANSAS Logan L., Middle School, West Memphis
CALIFORNIA Catherine Y., Middle School, Mission Viejo
COLORADO Wynn L., Middle School, Fort Collins Isabella F., High School, Parker
CONNECTICUT Jane C., Middle School, Fairfield
DELAWARE Ryan H., Elementary School, Newark
FLORIDA Micah B., Elementary School, Winter Garden Hadley P., Elementary School, Naples Oliver C., Middle School, Weston
GEORGIA Landry E., High School, Meansville
HAWAII Laylamae W., Middle School, Ewa Beach
IDAHO Eloise P., Elementary School, Rathdrum Rebekah C., Middle School, Meridian
ILLINOIS Reva S., Elementary School, Naperville
INDIANA Elizabeth A., Elementary School, Evansville
IOWA Lynnaea W., Elementary School, Adel Suusandy K., Elementary School, Des Moines Sophia C., Middle School, West Des Moines Olivia Z., Middle School, Ames Raam P., Middle School, Marion Aanya K., Middle School, West Des Moines
LOUISIANA Olivia A., Middle School, Luling
MAINE Delaney B., Elementary School, Oxford Sam D., High School, Acton
MARYLAND Matthew J., Middle School, North East Robyn S., Middle School, Mount Airy Camden S., High School, Fallston Melody T., High School, Aberdeen
MASSACHUSETTS Sarah E., Middle School, Chelmsford John C., Middle School, West Roxbury
MICHIGAN Sophia K., Middle School, Grand Rapids Malik C., High School, Detroit Levi S., High School, Northville
MINNESOTA Zoey P., Elementary School, Oak Grove
MISSISSIPPI Maddie G., High School, Corinth Tilden S., High School, Corinth
MISSOURI Ina K., Elementary School, Belton
MONTANA Peyten T., Elementary School, Livingston Cecelia H., Middle School, Missoula Cylee N., High School, Crow Agency
NEW JERSEY Valeria R., Elementary School, Bridgewater Olivia P., Elementary School, Madison Everett K., Elementary School, Haddonfield Alexander L., Middle School, Florham Park Kaitlyn R., Middle School, Milltown Jessenia S., Middle School, Newark Foysal S., High School, Elizabeth Brenden F., High School, Cinnaminson
NEW MEXICO Luke B., Elementary School, Albuquerque
NEW YORK Alanna C., Elementary School, Baldwin Anneli H., Elementary School, Rifton Ronald B., High School, Yonkers
NORTH CAROLINA Charleston D., Elementary School, Rougemont Ethan K., High School, Kernersville Abigail P., High School, Winston-Salem
OHIO Rohith D., High School, Delaware
OREGON Sylvie H., Elementary School, Talent Gregory D., High School, Portland Sayed Ali H., High School, Beaverton Haidy M., High School, Beaverton Shadan A., High School, Tigard
PENNSYLVANIA Caleb H., Elementary School, Dillsburg Aubrey C., Elementary School, Fogelsville Elizabeth S., Middle School, Lewistown Josiah K., High School, Millersville Wesley G., High School, Lancaster
SOUTH CAROLINA Arslan S., Elementary School, Columbia
UTAH Guard F., Middle School, Lehi
VIRGINIA Claire Y., Middle School, Stafford Maia Z., Middle School, Toano
WASHINGTON Hailey S., Elementary School, Woodinville Elsa Marina L., Elementary School, Seattle |
About America250
America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is spearheaded by the congressionally appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its nonprofit supporting 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. Until 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, and LinkedIn.
About BNY
BNY is a global financial services company that helps make money work for the world — managing it, moving it and keeping it safe. For 240 years we have partnered alongside our clients, putting our expertise and platforms to work to help them achieve their ambitions. Today we help over 90% of Fortune 100 companies and nearly all the top 100 banks globally access the money they need. We support governments in funding local projects and work with over 90% of the top 100 pension plans to safeguard investments for millions of individuals, and so much more. As of March 31, 2024, we oversee $48.8 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $2.0 trillion in assets under management.
BNY is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). We are headquartered in New York City, employ over 50,000 people globally and have been named among Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies and Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators. Additional information is available at https://www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on LinkedIn or visit our Newsroom for the latest company news.
1Funding provided by The Bank of New York Mellon Foundation.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240708277609/en/
Contacts
MEDIA: press@america250.org
