The Gilder Lehrman Institute (GLI) launched the 2025 Citizenship Challenge: Redesigning America’s Citizenship Test contest for students in our Affiliate School network to creatively showcase their understanding of American history, civics, and the naturalization exam.
The Citizenship Challenge
The Citizenship Challenge: Redesigning America’s Citizenship Test
Ten $500 Prizes
Grades 3–12
About the Contest
As part of the contest, students in grades 3–12 submitted an original essay, podcast, or documentary as an entry to the competition.
A jury of master teachers recruited by GLI reviewed the entries, and the winners were determined by a panel composed of members of GLI’s Student Advisory Council. Entries were evaluated for their depth of research, creativity, accuracy, and quality of argumentation. Students’ work was reviewed and judged at their respective grade levels (Grades 3–8 and Grades 9–12).
Congratulations to the 2025 Winners!
A panel of Gilder Lehrman master teachers selected the pool of finalists from 450 submissions, from which a jury of Gilder Lehrman Student Advisory Council members selected the winners. Entries were evaluated for their historical reflection, clarity, research, persuasiveness, and imagination.
Grades 3–8 Winners
Olivia Charles
Grade: 5
School: Davis Elementary School, NY
Marguerite Mauldin
Grade: 8
School: Eastern Middle School, MD
Ira Rao
Grade: 7
School: Timberline Middle School, WA
Juno Seigel
Grade: 8
School: Eastern Middle School, MD
Iahn Jemsin Seo
Grade: 7
School: Boston Latin School, MA
Grades 9–12 Winners
Juliana Albanese
Grade: 9
School: Croton-Harmon High School, NY
Yi Xiang Chen
Grade: 12
School: Francis Lewis High School, NY
Gabriel Gougenheim
Grade: 9
School: The British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Shamir Pena
Grade: 11
School: Passaic County Technical Institute, NJ
Viola Venezia
Grade: 9
School: Haverford High School, PA
Submission Guidelines
For All Entries
- Who can submit: Students in grades 3–12 can submit a project. A teacher or a parent/guardian can submit the student-produced project to the award website on the student’s behalf.
- Topics/Theses: Submissions must
- Craft a relevant and insightful question that should be included in the new test. Provide the correct answer to your question.
- Explain why this question (and its answer) is vital, highlighting why the information is critical for future US citizens to know.
Written Submissions (Essays)
- Word Count: Your essay should be approximately 300–600 words. (The title, footnotes/endnotes, and bibliography are not included in this word count.)
- Judging Criteria: Essays will be judged on the quality of historical research, analysis, and clarity.
- Font and Page Style: Use Times New Roman, 12-point font. Set one-inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides.
Ensure your essay is free of teacher comments, corrections, or other notes. - Primary Sources: Include primary source documents related to the history of US citizenship and naturalization.
- Secondary Sources: Use scholarly secondary sources rather than textbooks for top-tier projects.
- Citations: Provide clear, complete, and consistent citations.
Document your sources using MLA, APA, or Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian. - Cite online sources with the creator/author, title, publisher, and URL.
- Bibliography: Include a bibliography that lists all sources. Separate your bibliography into primary and secondary sources.
Mini Podcast/Documentary
- Length: Your production should be approximately 2–4 minutes long.
- Primary Sources: Integrate primary source documents related to the history of US citizenship and naturalization, including audio-based and/or image sources (archival audio and/or photographs or video). Highlight citizenship and naturalization through primary sources in your production.
- Secondary Sources: Use scholarly secondary sources rather than textbooks for top-tier productions.
- Organization: Ensure your production has a clearly defined beginning, middle, and end.
- Citations: Provide full citations for all sources. Refer to the NPR Ethics Handbook for guidance on citing audio sources.
- Bibliography: Include a separate bibliography listing all sources. Divide your bibliography into primary and secondary sources.
Other Citizenship Resources
Review the Citizenship Test
Use the full version of the citizenship test on our website to get a sense of what is on the exam.
View the Video Library
Our resource suite includes a library of short videos explaining key topics connected to questions on the citizenship test, featuring eminent historians and content experts in the field.