The Council of Youth Programs formerly known as Council of Youth Awards was formed by President General Thomas Lawrence in 2015. It consists of the Chairmen and sub committee chairman of all of the Youth Award/Program Committees: Youth Exchange, Poster and Brochure Contests, C.A.R., Rumbaugh Orations, Knight Essay, Eagle Scout, JROTC/ROTC, and American History Teacher. While the Council officially consists of these Chairmen, others are certainly welcome to come and participate. The purpose of the Council is to act as a forum for matters of mutual concern and interest to all the Youth Programs, as well as a place where matters pertinent to all the programs may be brought.
Elementary School Poster Contest
The Council of Youth Programs Poster Contest was created in 2002 by the Americanism Committee and is open to public, private, or ecumenical, and home schooled students in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grades, depending on when the American Revolution is taught. It is also open to members of the C.A.R., Cub Scouts, or Girl Scouts as long as they are of the same age group and the contest is not conducted through their local school system. Contestants are judged and winners announced during the Annual Congress. Judging is based upon portrayal of the theme, originality, evidence of research, neatness, artistic merit, and creativity. The theme for academic years ending in even numbers is “Revolutionary War Events” and the theme for academic years ending in odd numbers is “Revolutionary War Person or Persons.”
Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest
A program created in 2013 by the Americanism Committee. The winners are judged and announced during the annual Congress each year. This Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest is open to middle school students, depending upon when the American Revolution is taught in their educational system – including ecumenical and home-schooled students. Judging is based upon portrayal of theme, originality, evidence of research, neatness, artistic merit, and creativity. The permanent theme is “The Founding Documents of the United States.”
Youth Video Contest
The SAR Youth Video Contest is an exciting new format where you can share what you know about the American Revolution. Tell us about a person, battle, document, or event during the American struggle for independence and do it in video form. The key is to BE CREATIVE! Your project could be filmed or animated. It could look like a cable news broadcast or a pretend movie trailer. Perhaps you will create a music video or even a rap battle. Show the judges you can think outside of the box.
The Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Award Contest
The Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Award Contest is open to all Eagle Scouts who are currently registered in an active unit and have not reached their 19th birthday during the year of application. (The application year is the calendar year, 01 Jan. to 31 Dec.). The year that the Eagle was awarded is not restricted. College plans do not need to be completed in order to receive the cash award. As long as the Scout meets the contest age requirements, there are no limits to the number of times one may enter or maximum dollar amount of the prize one may receive. One entry per year. The contest requires three items be provided: 1. A list of Scouting, school, and community activities, 2. A patriotic essay of no more than 500 words and 3. A four-generaon ancestor chart. Entrants need to complete only one application, the one for the chapter competition. If the Scout wins the chapter competition, they advance to the state competition, and if they win the state competition, you advance to the national competition. There are $27,000 in National award prizes given to the top 15 state entries with first place receiving $10,000.
ROTC/JROTC
The ROTC/JROTC Committee oversees the Chapter and State Society level ROTC/JROTC programs. The committee also serves as a liaison with the United States Service Academies and sponsors an award for an outstanding graduate at each of the military academies, including West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
Additionally, the committee judges and selects the winner and four runners-up of the Outstanding JROTC Contest. For this contest, a JROTC cadet submits an application summarizing their leadership positions, school and community activities, and an essay of at least 500 words on a designated topic. Applicants submit their packets to the nearest SAR Chapter; chapter winners then compete at the state level, and each state society submits its winner to the NSSAR for national judging. Current national awards are $6,000 for 1st place, $3,000 for 2nd place, $1,500 for 3rd place, and $500 each for 4th and 5th place. The application form and instructions can be found on the NSSAR website at the SAR Enhanced JROTC Cadet Contest tab under the Education tab.
Oration
The SAR High School Oration Contest encourages students to explore the history and principles of the American Revolution and to consider how those ideas continue to shape our nation today. Participants research and compose an original speech focused on an event, individual, or document from the Revolutionary War era, and present their oration from memory, without notes or props. In doing so, they demonstrate both their understanding of American history and their ability to communicate its significance clearly and effectively.
The contest is conducted at the chapter, state, and national levels, providing students with the opportunity to advance through successive rounds of competition while developing and refining their skills in research, writing, communication, and public speaking.
American History Teacher Grant
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), whose mission and objectives are patriotic, historical, and educational, wish to identify, recognize, and commend Outstanding American History 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 Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Grant winner will represent a teacher whose instruction on the Revolutionary War era, from 1750 to 1800, demonstrates educational efforts in the classroom that exceed and excel above current, accepted curriculum requirements.
