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

 

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.

MEDIA: press@america250.org