America250 Announces 2026 America’s Field Trip Awardees: Celebrating 250 Students In The Nation’s 250th Year

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 3, 2026--

As the school year ends and the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America250 today announced the 2026 America’s Field Trip awardees, recognizing 250 students from across the country for their original reflections on “What does America mean to you?”

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America250 is the only national, nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to help lead the celebration and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Its mission is to engage all 350 million Americans through national programming, major events, partnerships and public participation opportunities.

America’s Field Trip is a nationwide student contest that invites students in grades 3–12 to share what America means to them through original writing or artwork, expressing their perspectives on the country’s history, promise, complexity and future. First-place awardees receive unforgettable field trip experiences at iconic American historical, cultural and natural landmarks, such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Yellowstone National Park, and the Smithsonian Sleepover at the American History Museum.

“America’s Field Trip gives students a national platform to reflect on our country in their own words, through their own creativity and from the communities they call home,” said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. “As we prepare to commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary, these students remind us that America’s story is something each generation helps shape. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and give first-place awardees the chance to experience the people, places and ideas that have helped define our country.”

America’s Field Trip has been building momentum over three contest years as one of America250’s signature education programs, advancing the organization’s mission to educate, engage and unite Americans in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary. Since its 2024 pilot program, the nationwide student contest has received more than 20,000 entries, including more than 10,000 submissions this year alone. With this year’s class, America250 will have recognized 550 young people through America’s Field Trip, including 275 first-place winners receiving once-in-a-lifetime trips and 275 second-place winners receiving cash prizes. Entrants represented all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

A panel of current and former educators selected the 2026 honorees, the largest class of awardees yet: 250 students representing 46 states and U.S. territories. This includes 125 first-place awardees (41 elementary school students, 42 middle school students and 42 high school students) who will travel to one of 16 once-in-a-lifetime field trip experiences. An additional 125 second-place awardees (42 elementary school students, 42 middle school students and 41 high school students) will receive a $500 cash award and America250 gear. Students earned this special recognition through their creative reflections on the nation.

First-place awardees will participate in trips across 12 states and Washington, D.C., July 10-August 16, 2026. The Semiquincentennial itineraries feature several new experiences created for this milestone year along with returning favorites from previous contests, including:

The 2025-2026 contest was made possible through the support of Founding Sponsor BNY.

“We are proud to celebrate the 2026 America’s Field Trip awardees and the creativity, curiosity, and optimism they bring to this historic moment,” said Jayee Koffey, Chief Global Affairs Officer, BNY. “As America prepares to mark 250 years, these students represent the next generation of leaders, storytellers, and changemakers. BNY is honored to support a program that helps young people connect with the history, landmarks, and values that continue to define our nation.”

For a full list of awardees and a selection of winning submissions, please visit america250.org/fieldtrip/awardees.

America250 Drives Momentum from Sea to Shining Sea

With just over one month until July 4, 2026, America250 continues to build nationwide participation and its strongest momentum yet through values-based programming focused on service, storytelling, education, innovation, culture and community engagement. Across its programs, America250 is creating opportunities for Americans to learn, participate and share their stories as part of a national commemoration designed to build long before and endure long after the fireworks, including:

These programs are designed to engage Americans from every part of the country and create a legacy that extends beyond July 4, 2026.

About America250

America250 is the national nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in celebrating and commemorating the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is spearheaded by the congressionally-appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its sole-supporting nonprofit organization, America250.org, Inc., together known as America250. This multi-year effort kicked off with America’s Invitation on July 4, 2023: a national public engagement campaign inviting all Americans to share their stories and their hopes and dreams for the future of this country. Leading up to July 4, 2026, America250 is working to provide opportunities for all Americans to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look to the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. To learn more, visit America250.org, and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

About America’s Field Trip

America’s Field Trip Contest is a creative opportunity for students in grades 3-12 to reflect on what America means to them through original artwork or written responses. The contest encourages students from across the U.S. and its territories to share their vision of America’s values, history, and future.

About BNY

BNY is a global financial services platforms company at the heart of the world's capital markets. For more than 240 years BNY has partnered alongside clients, using its expertise and platforms to help them operate more efficiently and accelerate growth. Today BNY serves over 90% of Fortune 100 companies and nearly all the top 100 banks globally. BNY supports governments in funding local projects and works with over 90% of the top 100 pension plans to safeguard investments for millions of individuals. As of March 31, 2026, BNY oversees $59.4 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $2.1 trillion in assets under management.

BNY is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BNY). Headquartered in New York City, BNY has been named among Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies and Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators. Additional information is available on www.bny.com. Follow on LinkedIn or visit the BNY Newsroom for the latest company news.

Artwork by Jason L., 4th Grade, Chandler, Arizona.

Artwork by Cheyenne P., 11th Grade, Pembroke, Kentucky.

NEW YORK (AP) — Mole people? Crocodile catchers? Mario brothers? A series of bizarre sightings of people popping in and out of New York City’s vast subterranean sewer system has the city wondering what exactly is going on, with police now probing the underground mystery.

Security cameras have recorded at least three nighttime instances where groups of people entered or exited sewer tunnels via maintenance holes on streets in Brooklyn and Queens.

In one video, taken early Friday morning in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, a group of roughly seven people were recorded popping out of a maintenance hole in the middle of an intersection, in full view of passing cars.

Some wore headlamps and carried what appeared to be shovels and other tools. One narrowly missed getting run over by a vehicle as they pulled themselves out of the ground.

In another video, a group of about seven people could be seen emerging from a maintenance hole around 2 a.m. on a quiet street in Brooklyn's Gravesend neighborhood. They made their way to a couple of parked cars and pulled out fresh clothes to change into. Police say the group entered the sewers about 11 p.m., meaning they could have been underground for three hours.

On May 5, three people dressed in waterproof hip waders and other protective gear pried open a maintenance hole cover and descended into the sewer on a street in Queens. The last person pulled the cover shut as approaching cars slowed to a stop.

Aki Jakupovic, the owner of an auto detailing shop, said his shop’s surveillance cameras recorded that group of sewer spelunkers. He said he couldn’t venture a guess as to what the people did below ground but worried they were “up to no good.”

The city Department of Environmental Protection said it inspected the sewers at both Brooklyn locations and verified the sewer infrastructure wasn’t damaged. The incident in Queens is still under investigation, the agency said.

Rob Wolejsza, the department’s spokesperson, stressed that entering the sewers is not only illegal but “extremely dangerous.”

“Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces,” Wolejsza said in a statement. “For these reasons, members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall.”

Last month, a woman fell into an open maintenance hole on a busy street in midtown Manhattan and died. Utility officials said the hole cover had been dislodged by a truck.

Police, meanwhile, said they don’t believe there’s any threat to public safety after conducting a thorough sweep of the areas. There have been no reports of injuries and no arrests, and the investigation is ongoing, the department said.

On Tuesday, at the busy intersection in Williamsburg where the second group was spotted, resident Anthony Purdie said he isn’t convinced it was simple curiosity that drew the group to explore the sewers in the cover of night.

“They look like they were looking for something important, like money, or for doing some type of hurting,” he said. “Ain’t no fun and games. I mean, seven grown adults going down there? Got to be something, man.”

Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo

In this image from a surveillance video provided by AKI AUTO CARE, three people descend into a sewer on a street in New York, on May 5, 2026. (AKI AUTO CARE via AP)

In this image from a surveillance video provided by AKI AUTO CARE, one of three people descends into a sewer on a street in New York, on May 5, 2026. (AKI AUTO CARE via AP)