We The Future College Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Constituting America

Overview
There are scholarships available ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. Teachers whose classes produce at least 10 student entries will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Additionally, the educator who recruits the largest number of student submissions will receive a $1,000 prize (see the teacher category for full details).

Winners will be invited to attend the Winner Mentor Trip, provisionally scheduled for September 2026; travel and program costs will be fully paid.

Eligibility (College Category)
- College category: ages 17–24.
- Students should be enrolled for 12 credit hours or more.

Important deadlines and rules
- Register for the contest through the online entry portal on this website.
- Deadline for submissions: May 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Entries must be uploaded electronically via the site (see Official Rules Section III for complete submission instructions).
- Use of AI: Participants may employ AI tools only for technical tasks such as editing, formatting, design, or transitions. All original concepts, writing, and creative content must be the entrant’s own work. Entries will be evaluated using third-party analysis software.
- Any entry that incorporates copyrighted music, film clips, or photographs must have the appropriate permissions and licenses secured before submission to be eligible.

Acceptable entry formats (College students may submit one of the following)
1) Essay
- Length: 500–700 words.
- Topic: Explain how the Declaration of Independence relates to the U.S. Constitution. Why are both documents significant? How might the United States be different without them?
- Suggested focus: Consider how the Constitution’s checks and balances were informed by principles found in the Declaration, and discuss foundational Declaration ideas such as unalienable rights (including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) and the “consent of the governed.”
- Submission notes: Essays may be uploaded electronically or mailed. Every page must show the student’s name, age, and grade. If mailed, include the completed essay and the contest entry form. Refer to Official Rules Section III for full mailing and upload instructions.

2) Song
- Theme: Celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday and reflect on what the Declaration’s language (life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and/or consent of the governed) means in that context.
- Requirements: Original composition (lyrics and music) in a popular genre (pop, country, rock, or similar). Maximum length: 3 minutes, 20 seconds.
- Upload: Post to YouTube (minimum 640×360; HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled) and include a video of a live performance. The uploaded video title must include the song title and the song lyrics must appear in the video description. See Official Rules Section III for additional details.

3) STEM Project
- Idea: Design a survey, run focus groups, build an online quiz or website, or develop a smartphone app that highlights the celebration of July 4, 2026 and gauges peer knowledge about the Declaration of Independence.
- Suggested component: Explain, using STEM or technology methods, the meaning and importance of the passage: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” with emphasis on “consent of the governed.”
- See Official Rules Section III for submission specifics for STEM entries.

4) Short Film
- Two thematic options:
Option A – A 5–10 minute film illustrating how the Constitution’s checks and balances and federalism protect the republic.
Option B – A 5–10 minute film depicting how the Declaration’s ideas of self-government, consent of the governed, and individual rights have prevented tyranny and safeguarded life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Requirements: Film must be original, written and directed by the student. Teams of up to two students may collaborate. Length must be at least 5 minutes and no more than 10 minutes. See Official Rules Section III for technical and submission details.

5) Social Media Video
- Prompt: In 60 seconds or less, demonstrate how the Declaration of Independence—and its principles such as inalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) and “consent of the governed”—help prevent tyranny and protect our rights.
- Thought prompts: How do town halls or civic gatherings embody these ideas? What does “consent of the governed” mean in the context of the quoted Declaration passage?
- Requirements: Maximum length 60 seconds. Original concept written and directed by the student. Up to two students may collaborate. Upload format: 1080×1920 (9:16 aspect ratio) at the highest available resolution to YouTube or Vimeo (download enabled). Consult Official Rules Section III for details.

6) PSA (Public Service Announcement)
- Format: A radio or television-style commercial, up to 25 seconds.
- Topic choices (select one):
Option 1 – Why citizens should understand the Constitution.
Option 2 – Why civil, civic conversations matter today.
Option 3 – How the Declaration of Independence showcases American ingenuity.
- Upload: Post to YouTube (minimum 640×360; HD preferred) or Vimeo (download enabled).
- Required statement: The first line of the video description in your online submission must read: Submitted to Constituting America’s We The Future 2026 Contest www.constitutingamerica.org.
- Online submission package: Entry permission form, YouTube or Vimeo link, and the PSA script must be uploaded through the contest portal. Include your name, age, and grade on every page of the entry materials.

General technical and submission reminders
- Always follow the file format, resolution, and labeling instructions noted above for each category.
- Obtain any necessary licensing for copyrighted content before uploading.
- Consult Official Rules Section III on the website for full specifications, formatting guidance, and step-by-step submission instructions.

If you need help interpreting any rule or confirming a technical requirement, tell me which category you plan to enter and I’ll clarify the specifics.