Rules for the Americanism Elementary School Poster Contest

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

The North Carolina SAR Americanism Committee is pleased to announce the North Carolina Americanism Poster Contest to stimulate interest in American History in support of the established school curriculum.

This contest is directed at students in the 3rd, 4th or 5th grades, depending on which year the American Revolution is taught in their educational system – including ecumenical and home schooled students.

The contest is also open to members of the Cub Scouts and Brownies and CAR (Children of the American Revolution) who are in the same grades but whose school system may not be participating in the contest. In the case where the local school system, or its equivalent, is participating, the young person must enter the contest through the school and not as a separate entry.

The 2015 Americanism Poster Winner on the theme of Lexington and Concord.
The Americanism Poster Winner on the theme of Lexington and Concord.

Deadline for filing the Entry Form is May 1!

The topic for this contest is as follows:

  • For academic years ending in even numbers – “Revolutionary War Events.”
  • For academic years ending in odd numbers –  “Revolutionary War Persons.”

The contest entries are judged in Mid-May of each year by members of the North Carolina SAR Americanism Committee.

Posters will be judged by the following criteria:

  • Does the poster express the annual theme?
  • Does the poster show originality by the student?
  • Does the poster show evidence of research?
  • Does the poster show artistic merit and creativity?
  • Does the poster accurately reflect the historical event?
  • Is the poster neat and visually pleasing?

How the contest works & cash prizes:

  • Each local school winner will compete at the Chapter level first.
  • Each Chapter winner will compete at the North Carolina State level.
  • 1st place prize is $250 for the student and $100 for the sponsoring teacher,
  • 2nd place prize is $150 for the student and $100 for the sponsoring teacher,
  • 3rd place prize is $75 for the student and $75 for the sponsoring teacher.
  • Once the North Carolina SAR has selected a winner, that poster will compete at the National level. Only one (1) entry from each State Society is accepted to compete at the National level.

The State Winners will be on display during National Contest and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Winners will be announced during the annual SAR National Congress. The top National winners will receive a Rosette Ribbon with 1st place cash prize of $150, 1st Runner-up prize is $100, and 2nd Runner-up prize is $50, each for the student.

SAR Americanism poster winner with Jim Wood 2015
A recent Americanism Poster winner is a 5th grade student in Charlotte, NC, presented with her contest winnings by Jim Wood.

Poster Contest Rules & Regulations

  • The entry from (download Entry form & Rules here) must be filed with your local SAR chapter by May 1. You can click here to find the local chapter nearest you.
  • All posters must have a copy of the entry from affixed to the back of the poster. You may redact the SSN on the copy of the entry form affixed to the poster. This will allow a representative from the State Society to retrieve the poster after judging.
  • The posters will be displayed and the Americanism Committee members will judge the posters at the National SAR Congress in July.
  • The 1st Place Winner’s poster will be displayed at the NSSAR headquarters for one year following the contest. At the conclusion of that year, the poster will be returned to the State Society that entered it. All other posters will be made available for return to the State Society that entered it by the conclusion of the Congress.

North Carolina Americanism Poster Program Chairman

John Thornhill