CELEBRATING THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2026 Palm Beach School District
In 2026, America will celebrate its 250th birthday, marking a historic milestone! As students approach graduation, the goal is to ensure they are well-informed about the nation's founding, preparing them for college, the military, the workforce, and—most importantly—their right to vote. To deepen this understanding, an essay contest invites you to explore a figure from the American Revolution (1773–1873) within your chosen career path. Whether a famous leader or an unsung hero, your selected individual should reflect how their contributions—big or small—helped shape the new nation. Consider figures from medicine, culinary arts, military service, craftsmanship, farming, or gardening, and uncover their lasting impact on America’s foundation.
Essay Entry Steps 1-3
#1 ESSAY CONTEST RULES:
- Contest will be conducted without regard to gender, race, color, religion or national origin
- All 11 th grade students, GRADUATING IN 2026 in Palm Beach School District are encouraged to participate
- Each entry must be on a fully completed entry form
- Each student may submit one entry on the designated website
- School contact will confirm student enrollment in 12 th grade and will sign form prior to submission
- Failure to comply with these rules will result in disqualification
#2 ESSAY LENGTH:
- Length is to be from 500-1,000 words
#3 ESSAY FORM:
- Essays must be computer-typed in a non-script font, sized between 12 and 14 points.
Students with limited vision may submit their work in Braille, audio recording, or large print. In such cases, a written transcript must accompany the submission, along with a teacher’s or physician’s letter verifying the student’s special need. All essays must be entirely the student’s original work, including research, writing, and editing. Assistance from parents, teachers, tutors, or others is not permitted.
Each essay must have a title page listing the “Name of your Subject”. The subtitle below the title must show the entrants full name and high school.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Each essay must include a bibliography listing all references used, cited in a standard, recognized citation style. Internet sources must follow the same format and include the electronic address for verification. Students are strongly encouraged to use primary sources and properly cite them. Plagiarism Policy: Essays containing copied information without quotation marks or proper citations will be disqualified.
JUDGING:
Entries will be evaluated on historical accuracy, quality of references, organization, originality, engagement, spelling, grammar, punctuation, neatness, and clear evidence of the student's independent work. Visual elements such as pictures, maps, drawings, and graphics will not be considered and should not be included. Judging will be conducted by a panel of representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution, Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach School District, and KOP Mentoring Network.
TIMELINE AND DEADLINE:
This contest will be promoted across all Palm Beach School District high schools by May 31, 2025, ensuring widespread awareness before the end of the current school year. Official notifications will be sent to Principals, English Department Heads, and Social Studies Heads via a School District notice. The submission deadline is November 2, 2025, allowing students ample time to conduct research and prepare their entries over the summer. Winners will be announced in Spring 2026. Submission details will be provided at a later date.
Some Suggestions for getting started!
If looking for people with jobs at the time of the Revolution that are at least close to what they are training for they should start with colonial newspapers, going to the advertisements to find jobs that are there.
ChroniclingAmerica.Loc.Gov/Research Guide: Exploring Historical Newspapers
To access historical newspapers from 1775 to 1783, click on "All Digitized Newspapers." Select your state to find relevant publications. Keep clicking on the newspaper page to enlarge the text for better readability. Most newspapers are approximately four pages long, often filled with advertisements reflecting the daily life and economy of the era.
Thinking Creatively in Your Research:
- Electricity & Innovation: Begin with a biography of Benjamin Franklin, exploring his experiments with lightning. While electricity as we know it didn’t exist, people relied on candles made from fat and lye, as well as whale oil. Look for relevant ads in the newspapers.
- Firefighting History: Franklin founded the first volunteer fire company in Philadelphia—who followed in his footsteps? Research the development of early fire brigades and their impact on public safety.
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