America 250: High School Student Challenge

Official Contest Rules

 Sponsor:
The America 250: High School Student Challenge (the “Contest”) is presented by Press Communications LLC in partnership with MonmouthNJ 250.

Eligibility

  • Open to legal residents of Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey.
  • Must be a currently enrolled high school student (grades 9–12) at the time of entry.
  • Participants under 18 must have parent or guardian permission.
  • Employees of Press Communications LLC, MonmouthNJ 250, and their immediate family members are not eligible.

How to Enter

  • Write an original response (175 words or fewer) answering:
    “What does the Declaration of Independence mean to you, and 250 years later, our nation?”
  • Submit your entry online at participating Press station websites or via the MonmouthNJ 250 website.
  • Limit one (1) entry per student.
  • Entries must be original, unpublished, and created solely by the entrant.

Entry Period

  • Contest begins: April 22, 2026
  • Entry deadline: May 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM (ET)
  • Late or incomplete entries will not be accepted.

Judging

  • Judges will be selected by MonmouthNJ 250
  • Judging will take place from May 19, 2026 through June 12, 2026.
  • Entries will be evaluated based on:
    • Creativity and originality
    • Clarity of expression
    • Relevance to the theme
  • All decisions by the judges are final.

Prizes

  • 13 First Place Winners:
    • $250 cash prize
    • Opportunity to record their submission at Press Communications studios
    • Entry aired on Press radio stations on July 4, 2026
    • Recognition at the Monmouth County Fair on July 22, 2026
  • 13 Second Place Winners:
    • $50 cash prize (awarded by mail)
  • Total prize value: $3,900

Winner Notification

  • Winners will be contacted between June 15, 2026 and July 1, 2026 using the information provided at entry.
  • If a winner cannot be reached or fails to respond within a reasonable timeframe, an alternate winner may be selected.

Rights & Permissions

  • By entering, participants grant Press Communications LLC and MonmouthNJ 250 the right to:
    • Use, edit, publish, and broadcast submitted entries in any media
    • Use, edit, publish, and broadcast audio content derived from the contest in any media
    • Use winner names, likenesses, and school names for promotional purposes without additional compensation
  • Entries will not be returned.

General Conditions

  • All federal, state, and local laws apply.
  • Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest if necessary.
  • By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules.

Sponsor

Press Communications LLC in partnership with MonmouthNJ 250