National “Impossible Test” competition offers $250,000 in scholarships as U.S. prepares to mark historic semiquincentennial
MONTGOMERY | Kay Ivey is calling on Alabama high school students to step into the national spotlight as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, urging them to compete in the Presidential 1776 Award — a nationwide civics and American history challenge launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education.
“This summer, we will celebrate America’s 250th birthday – two and a half centuries of the greatest nation the world has ever known,” Ivey said. “As we mark that milestone, we have a responsibility to prepare the next generation to carry it forward.”
A National Civics Competition With High Stakes
At the center of the competition is the “Impossible Test,” an online civics exam open to high school students nationwide. The exam challenges students’ knowledge of America’s founding documents, constitutional principles, civic traditions, and the framework of self-government.
Top-performing students from each state will advance to the regional semifinals. Finalists will compete in a nationally broadcast championship event in Washington, D.C., underscoring the federal and educational significance of the competition as the country approaches its semiquincentennial celebration in 2026.
Organizers are offering $250,000 in scholarship prizes to top competitors, adding financial incentives to what state officials describe as a broader civic mission.
America at 250: Education Meets Civic Engagement
The Presidential 1776 Award arrives at a pivotal moment in American public discourse, as schools, policymakers, and state leaders debate how history and civics should be taught. By linking the competition to the nation’s 250th anniversary, Alabama joins a broader effort to re-center civic literacy and historical understanding among younger generations.
Governor Ivey’s message places Alabama squarely within that national conversation, emphasizing civic education as foundational to sustaining democratic institutions.
Registration for the Presidential 1776 Award is open now at Presidential1776Award.org. All interested high school students must register before February 22, 2026.
The online “Impossible Test” will be administered between February 22, 2026, and March 1, 2026.
As America prepares to commemorate 250 years since its founding in 1776, Alabama’s top elected official is encouraging students not only to study history but to actively engage with it.
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-- By Amelia Nettles
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