Who: All students who live in the 13th Senatorial District in grades 9th through 12th attending public, private, charter, cyber or home school.
Prize: Overall winner gets to represent the 13th Senatorial District in the Pennsylvania Senate’s Ceremonial Celebration to be held in Philadelphia in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the United States on May 5, 2026. A parent or guardian is required to attend with the student, and a travel stipend will be provided to offset transportation costs.
Writing Prompt: Students should write a 250 to 500 word essay to answer the following question: Why is the Declaration of Independence considered to be one of the most important documents in world history?
Submission: Students throughout the 13th district will submit their essay electronically below. ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AT THE TOP OF THE ESSAY: Name of student, grade of student, school student attends, name of parent or guardian, home address, parent/guardian contact number and parent/guardian email address.
Scoring: Essays will be scored using a rubric with the following categories: Understanding and Explanation of Topic, Explanation of Historical Importance, Organization and Writing Conventions.
Duration: The essay contest begins on March 20, 2026, and ends at midnight, April 1, 2026.
Submissions Due April 1 and the winner will be notified on April 3.
By clicking the submit button below, I verify that I have read all items listed above, included the required information at the top of my essay, reside in the 13th Senatorial District and if chosen as the winner, can attend the Pennsylvania Senate’s Ceremonial Celebration on May 5 with a parent or guardian in Philadelphia.