SAR Youth Programs:
The SAR actively sponsors a wide variety of youth-oriented programs designed to educate school-aged children and promote American patriotism. These programs include generous awards and recognitions for exceptional effort. Please review the information below and email the Director of Youth Programs to get started. Good luck!
Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest:
Michigan high school students have the opportunity to show their literary skill as well as their historical and patriotic knowledge by entering the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest. The contest is open all students attending home schools, public, parochial, or private high schools who are in grades 9 through 12 within the jurisdiction of the sponsoring SAR state society or district. The Michigan Society and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution sponsor this Contest. The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed it on the Advisory List of the National Contests and Activities.
Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest:
Michigan middle school students (including 9th grade) are invited to participate in the Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest. Any middle school student from a public, private, or accredited home school is eligible. Individuals belonging to Scout programs as well as members of the C.A.R. are also eligible provided they meet age requirements. The deadline for submission for the competition is December 31 of each year.
SAR Americanism Poster Contest:
Michigan elementary school students are invited each year to participate in the SAR Americanism Poster Contest. The purpose of the competition is to stimulate interest in American history in support of the Elementary School curriculum, which is generally when the subject of the American Revolution is taught. This contest is endorsed by the National Art Education Association (NAEA). The deadline for submissions is December 31 of each school year.
Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award:
Michigan American History teachers are invited to apply for the Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award, presented to "educators who distinguish themselves in the addressing the history of the American Revolution." The award is open to all middle and high school American History teachers (public, private, or accredited home school) whose curriculum covers the period 1750-1800. The deadline for submissions is December 31 of each school year.
JROTC/ROTC & Service Academics Award Program:
The SAR has two award programs for the Junior ROTC programs:
The SAR awards the Bronze JROTC Medal to foster the principle of the "citizen-soldier", exemplified by the Minutemen of Revolutionary War days. This award is presented by a Chapter or a State Society to 3rd-year JROTC cadets who are selected for having a high degree of merit with respect to leadership qualities, military bearing and general excellence. The recipients are selected by the Commanding Officer of the ROTC or JROTC unit, who should be given full latitude in making the selection.
The Bronze JROTC Medal, authorized in 1965, is presented only to students in secondary school JROTC. No recipient may receive the award more than once.
The SAR hosts the JROTC Outstanding Cadet Competition to award a monetary prize each year. This is separate from the ROTC Medal program described above. It is for 3rd-year JROTC cadets who are in the top 10% of their JROTC class and the top 25% of their academic class. The cadets must write an essay, complete the nomination packet, and get letters from the Senior Instructor and Principal to be eligible to compete. The deadline for submitting the scholarship packet is December 31 of each year.
An additional program that the SAR supports is for Senior ROTC programs. The SAR awards the Silver ROTC Medal, originally authorized in 1933, to a 3rd-year Senior ROTC cadet who is selected for the award by the Senior Military Instructor. Award criteria is for a cadet who has demonstrated a high degree of merit with respect to leadership qualities, military bearing and general excellence. A cadet can receive this award only once.
The SAR supports all programs that encourage historical research, foster true patriotism, and maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom. We strongly support the United States ROTC/JROTC as exemplary programs of these ideals.
George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest:
The SAR invites all high school students interested in the American Revolution to participate in the George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest. The contest is open to all U.S. citizen students attending home schools, public, parochial, or private high schools in grades 9 through 12. To participate, students must submit an original 800 to 1,200-word essay based on an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. The deadline for submissions is December 31 of each school year.
Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Award:
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) invites all Eagle Scouts interested in the American Revolution to participate in the Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest. The contest is open to all Eagle Scouts who are currently registered in an active unit and, except as provided in the paragraph below, have not reached their nineteenth birthday during the year of application. The year that the Eagle rank was awarded is not restricted. Contest year is Jan 1 to Dec 31.
Awards are as follows: National First Place Winner receives $10,000; 2nd Place – $6,000; 3rd Place – $4,000; 4th Place – $2,000; 5th Place – $1000; 6th thru 10th – $500; and 11th thru 15th – $200. The First Place Winner will be asked to appear at the SAR Annual Congress, held in June or July, to be recognized and receive the award. Travel and lodging allowance will be provided.
The awards may be taken as either a cash award, or as a scholarship to an educational institution.
An Eagle Scout may apply for the contest in more than one year if they meet the age requirements, but no more than $10,000 total will be awarded to any one Eagle Scout. Prizes and recognition may also be awarded at the SAR Chapter and State Society level. Each Eagle Scout must complete an application form, a four-generation ancestor chart, and a 500-word patriotic themed essay.
The competition is conducted in three phases: the local Chapter level, State Society level, and National level. The competition is usually entered at the Chapter level, though in some cases, the competition may be entered at the State Society level. Applicants may not enter at the National level. Contest entrants need complete only one application for the SAR Chapter level competition. The application of the Chapter level winner is forwarded to be used in State Society and National level competitions by the SAR as appropriate. A complete set of rules, along with the application for both the applicant and the sponsoring SAR members, can be found on the Eagle Scout Application Form available for download on the link below. Please be aware that the local application deadline dates may vary, so interested applicants should reach out to the local SAR State Eagle Scout contact listed below for further details.
C.A.R. Activity Award:
The National Society of the Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) is an organization of persons through 21 years of age who are lineal descendants of a patriot of the American Revolution. The C.A.R. is an independent organization which looks to the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and General Society of the Sons of the Revolution (SR) for its leadership and financial support. The C.A.R. needs adult leaders, financial support, and members. SAR members may hold a “Senior Leader” office in a local-, state-, regional-, or the national-levels of the C.A.R. Direct descendants of SAR and DAR members (from birth to 22 years of age) are eligible for C.A.R. membership.
Every SAR chapter and state-level society should have a C.A.R. Chairman or Liaison Officer who focuses support and encouragement on this very worthwhile youth organization. It is encouraged to award the SAR, DAR, and C.A.R. members who give their time and effort toward supporting the C.A.R. This recognition can be given through the SAR or C.A.R. Medals of Appreciation or other appropriate medals for support and service to the C.A.R. Please complete the application form which can be found in the Consolidated Youth Awards Form and Instructions to enter your SAR state-level society in the C.A.R. Activity Award.