America’s Field Trip selected 250 students as its 2026 awardees.
America’s Field Trip is an America250 education program for students in grades 3 through 12. Participants submitted artwork or essays responding to the question, “What does America mean to you?” The 2026 awardees were chosen as part of the semiquincentennial celebration and represented young people’s perspectives on the country’s history, ideals, communities, and future.
The total of 250 is deliberately connected to the anniversary being commemorated. It is not the number of winning submissions in a single grade band or the number of participating schools. The awardees came from across the United States and its associated jurisdictions, giving the program a national scope.
The program divided recognition into first- and second-place groups. First-place awardees received field-trip experiences at notable historic, cultural, or natural sites, while second-place awardees received cash prizes. This structure made the contest both an educational opportunity and a national anniversary activity.