Americanism Elementary Poster and Middle School Brochure Contests -

Chairman: Larry Dean Sturgeon

The Americanism Elementary Poster and the Middle School Brochure Contests has been a great youth venue for stimulating Revolutionary War period history in our students. The Poster Contest is for elementary students in the 3rd -5th grades and the Brochure Contest is for Middle School grades 6th – 8th grades. For the Poster Contest, State Societies can pick their own contest theme on “Revolutionary War Events” for even numbered academic years and for odd number academic years the theme shall be “Revolutionary War People”.
The Poster FLSSAR State winners at the June 12th – June 14th BOM and Annual Meeting were:
1st Place, Caydence Prosak, Withlacoochee Chapter, 2nd Place, Layla Busby, Lake-Sumter Chapter and 3rd Place, Logan Tempel, Jacksonville Chapter. The Brochure FLSSAR State winners were 1st Place, Isabella Rincon, Caloosa Chapter, 2nd Place, Lindsey A. Cruz-Gutierrez, Jacksonville Chapter.

Poster Contest:

Accordingly, for FLSSAR 2019-2020, the Poster Contest Revolutionary War theme will be the “The Battle of Thomas Creek”. As before, I would suggest the Chapter winner deadline date of April 2018. For the FLSSAR contest the chapter winning posters (22 X 28 inches) will need to be brought to the BOM and Annual FLSSAR meeting by Friday Morning for judging. Make sure Chairman Sturgeon receives an original plus two copies of the entry form for the winning chapter poster. Attach the original to the back of the poster and Mr. Sturgeon will mail one copy to the National Chairman and the other copy to NSSAR HQ before June 1. For more details and entry forms go to: www.sar.org/Americanism-elementary-school-poster-contest. Next year our FLSSAR Poster theme for 2020-2021, the Revolutionary War People, will be Commander-In-Chief“, General George Washington” of the Continental Army.

Brochure Contest: (The Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Contest)

The Brochure FLSSAR State winners at the June 12th – June 14th BOM and Annual Meeting were:
1st Place, Isabella Rincon, Gulf Middle School, Calossa Chapter, 2nd Place, Lindsey A. Cruz-Gutierrez, Jacksonville Chapter.
Again, the theme for the Brochure contest is different than the poster contest and centers around the 8th grade curriculum where American History is normally taught in middle school. Submission is on an 8 ½ X 11 piece of paper that is created into a tri-fold brochure. The brochure will be judged on student art and student authored theme text. Material cut and pasted from books, magazines and the internet will be accepted but will receive a lower grade than student produced the artwork. Our FLSSAR submission deadline from individual chapter winners will need to be mailed or emailed to me by the end of April 2021. I will then email all chapter entries to our FLSSAR judges for their review and scoring. Hopefully, by the middle of May 2021, I will be able to forward by email our FLSSAR State Brochure winner to our National Brochure Chairman Kevin Tierney. Chairman Tierney will then repeat the process for all state winners to all the NSSAR judges to have a winner for final evaluation at Congress in Seattle, Washington in July 2021. For more details and entry forms go to: www.sar.org/education/youth-contests-and-awards.
“The permanent Middle School Brochure Contest theme that began with the 2020-2021 academic term will again be "The Foundational Documents of the United States". The theme for the Brochure Contest is structured to match up with the Government curricula found in most states during the middle school years. The students will be encouraged to pick a founding document and produce a brochure within the established criteria. This will eliminate the need to revisit the theme on an annual basis while providing a large amount of flexibility to adapt to the established curricula.”
This model will make it easier for Chapter Youth Contest Chairmen to find classroom teachers who can blend our contest into their history lesson plans.

These documents include: (remember A, B, C, and D & F)
• Articles of Confederation
• Bill of Rights
• Constitution
• Declaration of Independence
• Federalist Papers

The Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award - The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, whose mission and objectives are patriotic, historical, and educational, wish to identify, recognize, and commend Outstanding Social Studies Teachers.  These extraordinary educators at private, public, and parochial institutions, who teach our children in a middle or high school setting, will be recognized for actively addressing the history of the American Revolutionary era.  The Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award winner will represent a teacher whose instruction on the Revolutionary War era from 1750 - 1800 demonstrates educational efforts in the classroom that exceed and excel above current, accepted, curriculum requirements.

The George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest - The Sons of the American Revolution is pleased to sponsor this essay contest for high school students. The National rules found on the National website govern the contest.  The Knight Essay Contest was originally named in honor of SAR Compatriot President Calvin Coolidge who won an SAR essay contest while a student at Amherst College.  The contest was reestablished in 1988 by Compatriot McCarthy DeMere.  In 1995, the contest was renamed the “George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest” in honor of their generous gift to the National Society to support this contest.  The contest is designed to give High School students an opportunity to explore the early events that shaped American Revolutionary History.  The Florida Society has conducted a contest nearly every year since the National program was established.  Our winner in 2020 was Rachel Sheppard, sponsored by the Withlacoochee Chapter.
Topic: Write about an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution.
Judging Criteria and Rules Interpretations: The essay basically will be judged on historical accuracy, clarity of thought, organization and proven topic, grammar and spelling, and documentation (see the National SAR website for the precise rules) .  Participants in this contest agree that the interpretation of rules and the decisions of the NSSAR, the FLSSAR and its judges shall govern without reservation.  
Who can enter:  all students residing in Florida who are United States citizens or legal aliens and who:
-     are attending public, parochial, or private high schools (including accredited home schools).
-     will be in their freshmen, sophomore, junior or senior grade of study during the contest year.
-     did not win the first place prize at the state level in the previous year.
The winning essay will be sent to the National contest.  
Prizes: Chapters: each chapter will determine their prizes
Florida State Prizes: First Place: $1000 and medal, Second Place: $500, Third Place: $250
National Society Prizes:  (Please note: The National prize amounts are subject to change.)
First Place: $5,000 a winning recognition certificate and medal; $500 toward travel expenses and one night hotel for the winner and chaperone at the SAR Annual Congress (site changes annually)
Second Place: $2,500, Third Place: $1000 
How to enter the contest:  
1. Read the rules for the contest on the National SAR website (SAR.ORG).
2. Check with the SAR Chapter in your area to find out if they are conducting a chapter level contest or will sponsor you as their winner.  If so, send your essay to them by their deadline.
3. Deadline for entries for the state competition is March 20, 2021
Send entries to:
Sons of the American Revolution Knight Essay Contest
38 Lakeview Dr.
Fruitland Park, FL 34731        
Or email:  Ron_Grove@hotmail.com,  in Microsoft Word format.