Programs
The programs consist of state and local chapter competitions, contests, awards, outreach, and scholarships.
The Sons of the American Revolution sponsor a number of programs that educate and reward the youth of our chapters
Please Contact Your Local Chapters for Submission Due Dates!
Educator Awards
Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award
Click Here for Information and Guidelines
Contest Information and Instructions
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) invites all American history teachers, whose approved curriculum teaches students about the American Revolution era from 1750 to 1800, to apply for the Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award. The award is open to all teachers at the middle school or high school levels at a recognized public, private, or parochial institution. While the preliminary rounds of the award program begin at the local chapter level, teachers may eventually advance to the state and national levels.
The Missouri Society Sons of the American Revolution also offers an Award to Elementary Teachers who teach students about the American Revolution era from 1750 to 1800. See the M. Graham Clark Elementary School Teacher Award Below.
The winning teachers will then bring back to their classrooms and students a heightened level of creativity and enthusiasm for the American Revolutionary era. A complete set of rules, along with the application for both the applicant and the sponsoring SAR members, can be found above. Please be aware that the local application deadline dates may vary, so interested applicants should click on the link below and then reach out to their local SAR chapter for further details.
M.Graham Clark Elementary School Teacher Award
The Missouri Teacher Award is designed to recognize a teacher from a Missouri Elementary School who by their actions in a school setting perpetuates the memory of those patriots who, by their services or sacrifices during the war of the American Revolution, achieved the independence of the American People.
High School Students
George & Stella Knight Essay Contest
Open to any high school student in grade 9-12 attending home school, public, parochial, or private high school. 800 to 1,200 word essay on event, person, philosophy or ideal associated with American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or framing of US Constitution. Chapter, state & national level competition. Winners of state and national competition receive a cash prize.
Click Here for Information and Guidelines
High School Students
Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest
Open to high school students in grades 9-12. Each student’s five-to-six-minute speech (and accompanying manuscript) is judged based upon its composition, delivery, significance, and historical accuracy and relevance. Competition is at the chapter, state & national level with winners receiving scholarships or cash prizes.
Rumbaugh Oration Contest Information and Guidelines
NSSAR National Youth Video Contest
Notice: “All SAR Youth Video Contest entries must be submitted to the MOSSAR state committee by the local chapter by January 15, 2025. Participants, please consult your local chapter for Chapter Due Dates”
The SAR Youth Video Contest is an exciting new format where you can share what you know about the American Revolution. Tell us about a person, battle, document, or event during the American struggle for independence and do it in video form. The key is to BE CREATIVE! Your project could be filmed or animated. It could look like a cable news broadcast or a pretend movie trailer. Perhaps you will create a music video or even a rap battle. Show the judges you can think outside of the box.
Entries must contain ORIGINAL content and must be based on scholarly research of the presented topic. Content may not violate copyright laws. The subject of the entry should focus on an event, personality, document, or topic pertaining to the American Revolution. Emphasis on the 250th anniversary of the Revolution is recommended. The style, approach, and perspective are not limited.
- Eligible contestants: 6th – 12th grade students
- Video length: 3 – 5 minutes
- Individual or group projects accepted
- At least three research references are required
- National contest deadline: 15 February
See the link below for complete contest rules.
Contest Awards
- First Place: $1500*
- Second Place: $500
- * The First Place winner at the National level will receive a stipend of up to $1500.00 to reimburse travel to the NSSAR National Congress to participate in the Youth Awards Luncheon.
- Cash awards greater than $600 may be received as a scholarship with the completion of appropriate tax documents.
The contest will be administered at the Chapter, State, and National level. Contestants begin the process by submitting an application to their local Chapter coordinator. Each first-place winner will advance to the next level. Awards at the Chapter and State level are at the discretion of the Chapter and State Society, respectively. At-Large entries may be accepted in the absence of local programs.
Video Contest Application Form
Contestants have been expanded to include all Middle School and High School students (6th – 12th grade)
- Entries may be submitted by a single contestant or by a group.
- Video length: 3 – 5 minutes
- Language regarding original content, copyright infringement, plagiarism, and Artificial Intelligence has been expanded.
Please Contact Your Local Chapters for More Information and Submission Due Dates!
Middle School Students
Sergeant Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest
Open to middle school students (grade 6—9), depending upon when the American Revolution is taught, including ecumenical and home-schooled students. Tri-fold brochure from 8-1/2 x 11 paper. Based on 1 of 5 founding documents; Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Constitution, & Bill or Rights. Cash prizes are awarded to state and national contest winners.
WHAT IS THE SAR MIDDLE SCHOOL BROCHURE CONTEST?
The SAR Middle School Contest is to create a tri-fold brochure out of a typical 8 ½” x 11″ piece of paper. The brochure must conform to the contest theme which is one the nine foundational documents of the United States which the student selects. The brochure will be judged on: Content, Creativity and Correctness. The judging criteria rates highest personally drawn art work and text authored by the student as opposed to cut and paste from books, magazines and the Internet. The use of software tools by the student for creating the brochure, and even the art work, is permissible.
Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest – National Society Sons of the American Revolution (sar.org)
Contact Your Local Chapter for More Information:
Elementary School Students
Americanism Elementary School Poster Contest
Open to public, private, or ecumenical, and home schooled students in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grades, depending on when the American Revolution is taught. Created on standard flexible or foam backed poster board. Theme set by National, state identifies state-wide theme based on National theme. Cash prizes are awarded to state and national contest winners.
Click Here for More Information:
Click Here for Details on the NSSAR Website
ROTC/JROTCs
Outstanding ROTC/JROTC Cadet Award
The Unit Commanding Officer selects the college ROTC cadet (silver medal) or high school cadet (bronze medal) who has the highest degree of merit with respect to leadership qualities, military bearing, and general excellence. Chapter winners compete at the state & national level for cash awards.
Silver ROTC Medal – The National Society, a state or a chapter, may present this award only to students enrolled in a college or university ROTC program. The medal endeavors to foster the principle of “citizen-soldier” exemplified by the Minutemen and recipients should be selected by the commanding officer of the ROTC unit based on their military bearing, leadership potential, attitude, scholastic achievements, and general excellence. Commanding officers should be given full latitude in selecting an outstanding ROTC cadet.
Bronze ROTC Medal – The National Society, a state or a chapter, may present this award only to students enrolled in a high school or secondary school JROTC program. The medal endeavors to foster the principle of “citizen-soldier” exemplified by the Minutemen and recipients should be selected by the commanding officer of the ROTC unit based on their leadership qualities, military bearing and general excellence.
Contact Your Local Chapter for More Information:
Eagle Scouts
Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest
Open to any Eagle Scout not yet 19 during the year of application. Applicants submit a 2 page application, four-generation ancestry chart, & 500 word patriotic theme. Chapter winners compete at the state & national level. National award is $10,000 as cash prize or scholarship.
The Missouri Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) invites all Eagle Scouts interested in the American Revolution to participate in the Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest. The contest is open to all Eagle Scouts who are currently registered in an active unit and, except as provided in the paragraph below, have not reached their nineteenth birthday during the year of application. The year that the Eagle rank was awarded is not restricted. The contest year is from Jan 1 to Dec 31.
Awards are as follows: National First Place Winner receives $10,000; 2nd Place – $6,000; 3rd Place – $4,000; 4th Place – $2,000; 5th Place – $1000; 6th thru 10th – $500; and 11th thru 15th – $200. The First Place Winner will be asked to appear at the SAR Annual Congress, held in June or July, to be recognized and receive the award. Travel and lodging allowance will be provided.
The awards may be taken as either a cash award or as a scholarship to an educational institution.
An Eagle Scout may apply for the contest in more than one year if they meet the age requirements, but no more than $10,000 total will be awarded to any one Eagle Scout. Prizes and recognition may also be awarded at the SAR Chapter and State Society level. Each Eagle Scout must complete an application form, a four-generation ancestor chart, and a 500-word patriotic-themed essay.
The competition is conducted in three phases: the local Chapter level, State Society level, and National level. The competition is usually entered at the Chapter level, though in some cases, the competition may be entered at the State Society level. Applicants may not enter at the National level. Contest entrants need to complete only one application for the SAR Chapter level competition. The application of the Chapter level winner is forwarded to be used in State Society and National level competitions by the SAR as appropriate. A complete set of rules, along with the application for both the applicant and the sponsoring SAR members, can be found on the Eagle Scout Application Form available for download on the link below. Please be aware that the local application deadline dates may vary, so interested applicants should reach out to the local SAR State Eagle Scout contact listed below for further details.
Eagle Scout Medal – A chapter may award this medal annually to the Eagle Scout who is the winner of the chapter’s Eagle Scout Scholarship Competition.
Download the Application Here
Please Contact Your Local Chapters for More Information and Submission Due Dates!
Click Here to Download the Fernando de Leyba Chapter Eagle Scout Award Brochure