NASHVILLE, TN - In celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has announced the 2026 Civics Essay Contest for K-12 students, built around the theme “Tennessee, America at Its Best.”

Hargett said the contest is a chance for students to reflect on the state’s rich history of leadership and service. “Tennesseans have a celebrated and storied history of leadership and service to our great nation. Our nation’s semiquincentennial celebration in 2026 is an appropriate occasion to reflect on those contributions,” he explained. “I look forward to seeing the many essays highlighting Tennessee history in this year’s Civics Essay Contest.”

Students from public, private, and home schools across the state are invited to participate. Essays must be submitted by Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. through the contest website at sos.tn.gov/civics-essay-contest.

The contest is part of the Secretary of State’s ongoing civics engagement program, which encourages young Tennesseans to become active citizens. Winners will receive TNStars 529 College Savings Program scholarships and will be honored at the State Capitol on March 26, 2026. The day includes a luncheon for winners and their families, the chance to serve as a legislative page, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Prizes include $500 scholarships for first-place winners in each grade, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place. Beyond the contest, the Secretary of State’s office continues to provide civic education resources such as lesson plans, voter registration drive information, and the annual Anne Dallas Dudley Award Program.

With Tennessee’s role in America’s story front and center, the Civics Essay Contest offers students a meaningful way to celebrate the nation’s 250 years while imagining the future of civic leadership.