The Gilder Lehrman Institute (GLI) is launching 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. Each winning student will receive a $500 prize and be featured on GLI’s The Citizenship Test: Civics and American History webpage. Ten prizes will be awarded.
The Citizenship Challenge
The Citizenship Challenge: Redesigning America’s Citizenship Test
Ten $500 Prizes
Grades 3–12
About the Contest
Students in grades 3 –12 are eligible. As part of the contest, students can submit an original infographic, podcast, song, or documentary as an entry to the competition. All entries must incorporate content regarding at least one of the following:
- The history and importance of the US Citizenship Test
- Stories of immigrants who’ve gone through the naturalization process and made significant contributions to American society
- Questions that should be added to the US Citizenship Test
Students, teachers, or parents can submit student entries here by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 15, 2025, to be considered for the prize. A jury of master teachers recruited by GLI will review the entries. The winners will be determined by a panel comprised of members of GLI’s Student Advisory Council. Entries will be evaluated for their depth of research, creativity, accuracy, and quality of argumentation. Students’ work will be reviewed and judged at their respective grade levels (Grades 3–8 and Grades 9–12). Winners will be notified in late June and announced by no later than July 11, 2025.
Steps to Participate
Step 1: Imagine and Advise
Imagine you are a student advisor to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Department (USCIS) on redesigning the naturalization exam. Review the current exam and explore the questions and answers on GLI’s website, gilderlehrman.org/citizenship. Consider:
- Are all the essential topics covered?
- What is missing that future citizens should know?
Step 2: Create Your Entry
Select a format for your entry. You can create a mini-podcast or mini-documentary or write an essay (requirements listed below). Regardless of the format you select, high-quality entries will include the following:
- 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.
Step 3: Submit Your Entry
Submit your entry through the GLI contest submission portal by May 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET. For more details and submission instructions, visit our contest rules here. If you have any questions, please contact citizenship@gilderlehrman.org.
Get creative and dive deep into history with your essays or mini-productions! We can’t wait to see your unique perspectives and brilliant insights on citizenship and naturalization.
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.
Prepare and Submit Your Entry
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.
Submit Your Entry
Submit your essay, mini-podcast, or video by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 15, 2025.