Format

Students may submit either:

• A Video (MP4 format – MP4 4K 60 resolution)
• An Audio Podcast (MP3 format)

Length

Submissions must be between 5 and 10 minutes.

Topic

Each submission must focus on an event, person, demographic group, document, or topic related to the
American Revolution (1775–1783) in New Jersey.

Creativity is encouraged. Submissions may take the form of:

• Documentary
• Dramatization
• Interview
• Animation
• Debate
• Advertisement
• Or another creative format

Students are free to choose their own topic, as long as it relates to
New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution.

Research & Originality Requirements

• Submissions must be original work.
• A minimum of three (3) scholarly sources is required.
• All sources must be cited in the end credits and included in a separate Word document submitted with the project.
• All images, music, and other media must be free of copyright restrictions or properly credited.
• Submissions will be reviewed for plagiarism, including AI-generated material.

AI Policy

• AI may be used to generate images for illustrative purposes only.
• AI may not be used to create narrative text or dialogue.

Submissions must demonstrate thoughtful interpretation, historical reasoning, and historical accuracy.
Creative dramatization is permitted, but it must adhere to accepted historical facts.

Sponsoring Teacher Requirement

Each student must work with a Sponsoring Teacher, who:

• Must currently be employed by the student’s school
• Provides guidance on topic selection, research, structure, and content

For home-schooled students, a qualified parent, tutor, or mentor may serve as the Sponsoring Teacher.

How to Enter

Participation involves a two-step process.

Step 1: Register

Deadline: March 31, 2026

Complete the Contest Registration Form below.

You will need to provide:

• Student’s full name
• Student’s email address
• Sponsoring Teacher’s full name
• Sponsoring Teacher’s email address
• High school name
• Town where the school is located
• Working title of submission

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with your unique
Contest Registration Number.

📍Step 2: Submit Your Final Project

Deadline: June 12, 2026

Return to this page to upload:

• Your Contest Registration Number
• Your video (MP4) or podcast (MP3)
• A Word document listing:
  • All scholarly sources (minimum three)
  • Credits for any participants
  • Citations for images, audio, or other non-original material

Late submissions will not be accepted.

Key Dates

• March 31, 2026 – Registration Deadline
• June 12, 2026 – Final Submission Deadline
• By September 11, 2026 – Prize winners notified

Publicity & Release

By entering the contest, prize winners agree to allow PBS to use their names, likenesses, biographical information,
and submissions for promotional purposes.

All individuals appearing in prize-winning submissions must sign a release form.
A parent or guardian must sign if the participant is a minor.

Tax Information

Prize winnings are not taxable if used for educational purposes (tuition, books, or other college-related expenses).
If used otherwise, winnings may be taxable and appropriate tax documentation may be required.

PBS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and cannot endorse political parties, candidates, or political positions.
Submissions must not contain partisan political content.