The Governor Thomas Ford Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) invites local students to participate in the annual Junior American Citizens (JAC) Competition. Designed to foster citizenship, character, and an appreciation for American history, this year's theme challenges youth to explore "A Symbol of Independence: The Statue of Liberty Illuminating the Path to Freedom for 140 Years".
The contest is open to all students in 1st through 12th grades.
Creative Categories
Students can express their ideas across art and creative writing divisions:
Art Divisions:
Poster: Original artwork (8.5" x 11" minimum to 22" x 28" maximum) depicting the theme using drawing or painting media.
Stamp Design: Original design rendered within an exact 5" x 7" space on an 8.5" x 11" white sheet of paper.
Digital Art: Original artwork created digitally without stock art or copyrighted elements, sized up to 8" x 10" (hard copy or JPG/PNG under 5MB).
Creative Expression Divisions:
Poem: Original poetry of 300 words or fewer in any style.
Short Story: Original fiction up to 1,000 words in first- or third-person perspective.
Graphic Novel / Comic: Original comic artwork spanning up to 5 pages with 6–10 panels per page.
Submission Details & Key Dates
Submission Deadline: November 23, 2026
Sponsoring Chapter: Governor Thomas Ford Chapter, NSDAR
Contact Persons:
Tammy Seneca (DAR Contact)
Phone: (217) 552-8928
Email: tseneca89@gmail.com
Hillary Sawyer (PBL Contact)
Email: hsawyer@pblpanthers.org
Important Competition Guidelines & Forms
To download complete rules, category specifications, and official entry forms, please access the documents below: