U.S. Department of Education Announces Regional Semifinal Locations for the Presidential 1776 Award

Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced the five regional semifinal competitions for the Presidential 1776 Award, a nationwide civics competition recognizing exceptional student knowledge of the American founding, will occur at Presidential Libraries across the nation. This news comes after more than 8,000 high school students from all 50 states and territories signed up for the Impossible Civics Test. With this qualifying round complete, the nationwide competition is officially underway.

In partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration, the five regional semifinal competitions will be held simultaneously on May 2, 2026, at the following presidential sites:

• Region 1: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum - Boston, Massachusetts
• Region 2: Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum - Atlanta, Georgia
• Region 3: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum - Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Region 4: George W. Bush Presidential Center - Dallas, Texas
• Region 5: Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum - Yorba Linda, California

"What better way to bring history to life than by welcoming students into the very institutions that tell America's story every day through the legacy of the presidency?" said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "As we unite around America's 250th birthday, these regional semifinals will challenge students to deepen their knowledge of our nation's founding principles in places that embody our shared history."

"America's presidential libraries and centers all across the country are natural venue partners to host the Presidential 1776 Award competition, as each center plays an important role in celebrating the Semiquincentennial in its state and community," said Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Archivist of the United States, performing the duties of the Archivist. "The National Archives is pleased to support these astute and enterprising students who are putting their civics knowledge into action."

Regional semifinalists will receive a modest stipend to help defray attendance costs when they check in for their regional competition on May 2, 2026.

About the Presidential 1776 Award

Presidential 1776 Award is a nationwide competition recognizing exceptional student knowledge of the American founding. This award program establishes a national scholarship contest that evaluates students' civic understanding and the principles that shaped the United States.

The Presidential 1776 Award competition unfolds in three distinct stages designed to identify and celebrate high school students' knowledge of America's founding:

• In Round One, held during the week of February 22 to 28, 2026, students competed in The Impossible Civics Test, an online, timed, electronically proctored multiple-choice exam. This served as the qualifying round, and four finalists from each state will be selected.
• In Round Two, on May 2, 2026, the state finalists will compete in one of five in-person regional semifinal competitions. During these verbal competitions, students answer short answer questions that test their understanding of the Constitution, the American founding, and key moments in our nation's history. The top four students from each region move on to the National Final.
• Round Three, the National Final, will take place in Washington, D.C. in June 2026. Students will answer short answer verbal questions and will be awarded a point for each correct answer. The top three winners receive scholarships of up to $150,000.

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