George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest
What is the Knight Essay Contest?
The Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (FLSSAR) invites high school students in grades 9-12 to join in America’s 250th birthday celebration by participating in its annual High School Essay Contest.
The Essay Contest is an opportunity for students to research a topic relating to the American Revolutionary War period (1750-1800) and draft an essay to report their findings. The contest awards historical accuracy, significance, and good writing skills.
Cash prizes are awarded at the local, state, and national levels!
Who can participate?
Students in grades 9–12 are invited to compete in the annual High School Essay Contest. This free educational program is open to all high school-aged young men and women in public, charter, private, online, and home school settings. Students involved in youth organizations — such as Scouts, 4-H, or Children of the American Revolution – are also encouraged to participate.
What are the requirements?
Students 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. Essays will be judged based upon historical accuracy, clarity, organization, grammar and spelling, and documentation.
- Entries must feature original content and be based on scholarly research.
- Plagiarized and AI-generated works are not permitted.
- Only one entry per student is permitted per contest year.
How do I enter?
The contest takes place across three levels, beginning with your local chapter. Local chapter winners advance to the state-level competition, and each state winner then moves on to the National Competition to compete for national awards.
All entries must be submitted through a local chapter to begin the competition process.
Please note that local application deadlines vary, so interested students should contact their nearest chapter for specific submission dates and details.
- Contact your local chapter to begin the entry process.
- Review the complete contest rules, application form, and sample essay on our national website.
What Can I Win?
Top entries earn cash prizes at the local, state, and national levels! Each local chapter sets its own prize amounts, and chapter winners advance to the state competition.
State-Level Prizes:
- 1st Place: $1000 cash
- 2nd Place: $500 cash
- 3rd Place: $250 cash
The state winner will advance to the national competition, where prize amounts are determined and awarded by the National Society.
Additional Resources
High School Oration Contest
2025 National Winner Jonathan Paul
What is the Oration Contest??
The Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution proudly invites high school students in grades 9–12 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday by showcasing their knowledge and public speaking skills in the annual High School Oration Contest.
Participants dive into a topic from America’s fight for independence and turn their research into an exciting speech that brings history to life.
Cash prizes are awarded at the local, state, and national levels!
Who can participate?
The annual High School Oration Contest is open to all students in grades 9–12. This free educational program is open to all middle and high school students in public, charter, private, online, and home school settings. Participants involved in youth organizations—such as Scouts, 4-H, or the Children of the American Revolution—are also encouraged to enter.
What are the requirements?
Participants will craft and deliver an original oration lasting five to six minutes, presented entirely from memory—no notes, visual aids, or props allowed. Each speech should spotlight a Revolutionary War–era event, individual, or document, include a nod to America’s 250th anniversary celebration, and bring history to life by showing its powerful connection to our nation today.
Entries must feature original content and be based on scholarly research.
- Plagiarized and AI-generated works are not permitted.
- Only one entry per student is permitted per contest year.
How do I enter?
The contest takes place across three levels, beginning with your local chapter. Local chapter winners advance to the state-level competition, and each state winner then moves on to the National Competition to compete for national awards.All entries must be submitted through a local chapter to begin the competition process.
Please note that local application deadlines vary, so interested students should contact their nearest chapter for specific submission dates and details.
- Contact your local chapter to begin the entry process.
- Review the complete contest rules, application form, and sample essay on our national website.
What Can I Win?
Top entries earn cash prizes at the local, state, and national levels! Each local chapter sets its own prize amounts, and chapter winners advance to the state competition.
State-Level Prizes:
- 1st Place: $1000 cash
- 2nd Place: $500 cash
- 3rd Place: $250 cash
The state winner will advance to the national competition, where prize amounts are determined and awarded by the National Society.
Additional Resources
Youth Video Contest
Click image for sample videos.
What is the Youth Video Contest?
The SAR Youth Video Contest is an exciting new opportunity to showcase what you know about the American Revolution — through video. Share the story of a person, battle, document, or event from the struggle for independence in any creative style you choose. Your project can be filmed or animated; it can be a documentary, dramatization, interview, news report, movie trailer, music video, etc. The key is to be imaginative and think outside the box. Impress the judges with your originality!
Cash prizes are awarded at the local, state, and national levels!
Who can participate?
Students in grades 6–12 are invited to take part in the annual Youth Video Contest. This free educational program is open to all middle and high school students in public, charter, private, online, and home school settings. Participants involved in youth organizations—such as Scouts, 4-H, or the Children of the American Revolution—are also encouraged to enter.
What are the requirements?
Entries must feature original content based on scholarly research of the chosen topic and must not violate copyright laws. Subjects should focus on an event, individual, document, or theme related to the American Revolution, with an emphasis on the upcoming 250th anniversary encouraged. Participants may use any style, approach, or perspective.
- Eligibility: Students in grades 6-12.
- Video Length: 3-5 minutes.
- Only one entry per student is permitted per contest year.
- Format: Individual or group submissions.
- Research Requirement: Minimum of three (3) scholarly references.
- Video Formats: MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI.
- Individual and group entries are permitted.
How do I enter?
The contest takes place across three levels, beginning with your local chapter. Local chapter winners advance to the state-level competition, and each state winner then moves on to the National Competition to compete for national awards.
All entries must be submitted through a local chapter to begin the competition process.
Please note that local application deadlines vary, so interested students should contact their nearest chapter for specific submission dates and details.
- Contact your local chapter to begin the entry process.
- Review the complete contest rules, application form, and sample essay on our national website.
What Can I Win?
Top entries earn cash prizes at the local, state, and national levels! Each local chapter sets its own prize amounts, and chapter winners advance to the state competition.
State-Level Prizes:
- 1st Place: $500 cash
- 2nd Place: $300 cash
- 3rd Place: $200 cash
The state winner will advance to the national competition, where prize amounts are determined and awarded by the National Society.