Sixty-three educators have been awarded $300 each for integrating themes from the Declaration of Independence into their teaching in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
WASHINGTON, DC [November 10, 2025] The Bill of Rights Institute and iCivics have named the first round of winners of the Civic Star Challenge, a nationwide initiative to inspire millions of acts of civic learning in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Civic Star Challenge makes the teaching of the Declaration of Independence digestible and relatable to today’s youth by providing educators with a repository of adaptable lesson plans and activities that teach the key themes of the founding document. The resources are available at civicstarchallenge.org. Once educators have taught at least one of 11 themes, they can submit a log of their activities for a chance to win from a cash prize pool totaling more than $200,000.
The Challenge includes four rounds of random drawings, each awarding $300 to selected teachers, and an essay contest that has a $10,000 grand prize for the winning teacher’s school district.
The Civic Star Challenge is made possible through generous support from Griffin Catalyst, civic engagement initiative of Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin; the Stand Together Trust; and The Pedersen Foundation.
Today, the 63 winners of the first round of drawings have been announced. The teachers represent more than 25 states.
“The Civic Star Challenge honors the educators who keep America’s founding principles alive in their classrooms,” said David Bobb, President and CEO of the Bill of Rights Institute. “Their work reminds us that civic knowledge and virtue are essential to sustaining liberty for the next generation and to helping students see their role in preserving a free society.”
“The celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is an incredible moment to engage in the teaching of our founding documents and in civic education in general – and this has never been more critical,” iCivics CEO Louise Dubé said. “We’re proud to be able to reward teachers for their efforts to connect the themes and ideals from the Declaration to the present.”
The winners are listed below:
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Meredith Baker Andrea Bauck Jason Bennett Nicole Bloodgood Laura Bowersox Patricia Capobianco Stacey Clark Allison Collie Rachel Cox Jessica Culver Scott Cvelbar Deborah Damboise Marin Fairbanks Taneeta Fair Lauren Feld Kristina Fischer Jami Forrester Randall Furash-Stewart Jayme Gafford Nicole Gasparik Heaven Gomez |
Andrew Gordon Donna Gustafson Evelyn Homan Jeanette Hooks Andrew Hutchinson Andrea Jandt Lindsay Kahoe Samantha Keaton Bridget Kaiser-Munday Kennady Longhurst Jeffrey Maendel Laura McFarren Amanda Meyer Austin Migoski Lindsay Miller Katrina Neubrandt Rachel Newman Jackie Osborne Beth Oswald Michelle Palmer Patrick Pavelchik |
Victoria Pierce Samantha Rumbaugh Amanda Runkel Anne Schmitt Tiffany Smith Tracy Son Donna Stark Adeline Steger Adam Sturm John Suter Rachel Tate Hailey Thomas Deborah Torrens Sam Westerdale Holly Wittwer Daryl Workman Bryon Wren Kymberli Wregglesworth Nicole Wright Blanche Wulfekoetter Greg Yarnall |
