“PRESIDENTIAL 1776 AWARD” SPECIAL TO BE BROADCAST TUESDAY, JUNE 30 ON CBS
The Ultimate Civics Showdown
05/28/2026
CBS and the U.S. Department of Education announced today that the PRESIDENTIAL 1776 AWARD special will be broadcast Tuesday, June 30, (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream the next day on Paramount+*. Sign up to Paramount+ today at ParamountPlus.com.
The national final marks the conclusion of the first-ever Presidential 1776 Award competition, a nationwide civics challenge created to celebrate America’s top high school students and their knowledge of our nation’s founding principles. Culminating at the White House, the competition will bring the top performers from regions around the country to the nation’s capital to test their knowledge of the Constitution, America’s founding principles and defining moments in U.S. history. Finalists will compete for scholarships totaling $250,000, including a top prize of $150,000.
After a rigorous online qualifying exam and in-person semifinal competitions, 20 students are advancing to the finals from an original pool of more than 8,000 students across all 50 states and territories.
“As America approaches its 250th birthday, the Presidential 1776 Award is helping inspire a new generation of informed and engaged citizens who understand our Constitution, our history and the responsibilities of freedom,” said U.S. secretary of education Linda McMahon. “These remarkable students have already distinguished themselves through an extraordinary demonstration of civic knowledge, leadership and commitment to the principles that define our nation.”
Through the broadcast, audiences nationwide will have the opportunity to experience this historic competition and celebrate the next generation of American civic leaders.
“This competition celebrates America’s young people. Their passion for understanding the Constitution, our founding principles and defining moments in history assure all of us that they cherish the principles of democracy – our country is in good hands with the next generation,” said Susan Zirinsky, president and executive producer of See It Now Studios at Paramount.
The PRESIDENTIAL 1776 AWARD is produced by Alongi Media, with Phil Alongi and Gideon Hayes serving as executive producers.
About the Presidential 1776 Award
The Presidential 1776 Award is a nationwide civics competition recognizing exceptional student knowledge of the American founding. The program establishes a national scholarship competition designed to promote civic literacy and celebrate academic excellence.
The Presidential 1776 Award competition is comprised of three stages:
- Round One: During the week of Feb. 22-28, students competed in The Impossible Civics Test, an online, timed, electronically proctored multiple-choice exam. Four finalists from each state and territory advanced.
- Round Two: On May 2, 173 state finalists competed in one of five in-person regional semifinal competitions. During these oral competitions, students answered short-answer questions that tested their understanding of the Constitution, the American founding and key moments in our nation’s history. The top four students from each region advanced to the national final.
- Round Three: The national final will take place in Washington, D.C., on June 9. Students will compete in an oral academic competition, earning points for each correct answer. The top three finalists will win scholarship prizes totaling $250,000.
Multiple-choice and oral examinations for all three rounds were developed independently by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation.
The following students have qualified for the Presidential 1776 Award national finals:
- Jake Aoyagi, Oregon (alternate)
- Summer Brondstetter, Washington
- Frankie Buonpastore, New York
- Owen Burill, Kansas
- Tovia Chan, Washington
- Sam Chumley, Arizona
- Ryan Culbertson, Oregon
- Sokhna Diop, South Carolina
- Graham Engle, New Hampshire (alternate)
- Dareck Flores-Barreda, Kansas
- Graeme Griffiths, Rhode Island
- Olivia Grote, North Dakota (alternate)
- Macon Harrell, Mississippi
- Elisha Hoey, New Mexico
- Wasif Jaigirdar, Pennsylvania (alternate)
- Ishant Jawali, North Carolina
- Rowan Kozminski, Michigan
- Christian Liu, Maryland
- Rigley Nelson, South Carolina (alternate)
- Cayden Plate, Iowa
- Caden Rose, Indiana
- Aangad Singh, Connecticut
- Kaelyn Vaughan, West Virginia
- Miriam Washut, Wyoming
- Ray Zhao, Virginia
Background
The Presidential 1776 Award is one of the department’s initiatives to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The department has also launched the History Rocks! Trail to Independence Tour in partnership with more than 50 national and state organizations. This coalition is dedicated to advancing civic education and expanding opportunities for students to learn about the ideas, individuals and events that define the American story.
*Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on demand. Essential-tier subscribers will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.
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Please note that this press release has been slightly edited.
Update (6/14) - Saved By The Bell: The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced that television host and entertainment personality Mario Lopez will host the PRESIDENTIAL 1776 AWARD special, which will be broadcast Tuesday, June 30, (8:00-9:30PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream the next day on Paramount+.
The national finals mark the conclusion of the first-ever Presidential 1776 Award competition, a nationwide civics challenge created to celebrate America’s top high school students and their knowledge of our nation’s founding principles. The Presidential 1776 Award National Finals will bring the top performers from each region to the nation’s capital for a live, in-person competition, testing their knowledge of the Constitution, America’s founding principles, and defining moments in U.S. history.
“We are thrilled to have Mario Lopez help bring these inspiring students and their impressive achievements to audiences nationwide,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The Presidential 1776 Award celebrates academic excellence, a deep understanding of the Constitution, our nation’s history, and the legacy of freedom that continue to shape our country. These students represent the very best of the next generation of American civic leadership.”
“The Presidential 1776 Award is a unique opportunity to celebrate students who are passionate about civic knowledge and the American story,” said Mario Lopez. “I’m honored to be part of something that shines a light on these bright young people who will carry our nation into the future.”
Best known for his decades-long career in television and entertainment, including on the beloved school sitcom, Saved by the Bell, Lopez will host the nationally televised broadcast special accompanying the competition, helping spotlight the stories and achievements of students from across the country.
Through the broadcast, audiences nationwide will have the opportunity to witness a televised special about this historic competition and celebrate the next generation of American civic leaders. The broadcast special is produced by Alongi Media, with Phil Alongi and Gideon Hayes serving as executive producers.
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Originally published: May 30, 2026.
H/T: TheFutonCritic.com (II).
