America 250 Celebration

America 250: Expressions of Liberty Invites Vermont Students to Explore the Meaning of Freedom Through Poetry and Art

Statewide student contest to culminate in Constitution Day celebration at Town Hall Theater

MIDDLEBURY, VT -As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, Vermonters are invited to join a national moment of reflection, creativity, and civic engagement. In honor of America's Semiquincentennial, middle and high school students across Vermont are encouraged to participate in America 250: Expressions of Liberty, a statewide poetry and art contest exploring the theme: "What Does Freedom Mean to Me?"

Presented in partnership with the United States District Court for the District of Vermont, Vermont Poet Laureate Bianca Stone, and Town Hall Theater, this inspiring initiative invites young Vermonters to reflect on liberty through their own lived experiences, hopes, and imagination. Submissions are due June 15. Selected works will be showcased at a public Constitution Day celebration on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. Contest winners will be showcased in print materials and promoted. There will even be trophies, and refreshments at the open-to-the-public Constitution Day event...

Art Poetry Contest Flyer (pdf)

Press Release (doc)