BOSTON, MA (June 16, 2026) – The We Declare! Challenge today announced the winners of its inaugural statewide civics competition, recognizing three Massachusetts classrooms for their creative interpretations of the Declaration of Independence. More than 2,100 eighth grade students from 44 school districts participated, submitting 145 videos from across the Commonwealth.
All eighth-grade students from the winning classrooms will receive a $2,500 scholarship, recognizing their achievement and commitment to civic engagement. Boston Green Academy in Brighton was named the featured winner, earning the John Hancock Award for Excellence in Civic Expression and the opportunity to attend the Boston Pops July 4 Fireworks Spectacular, where their video will be broadcast live. Ashfield Middle School in Brockton received the John & Abigail Adams Award for Civic Leadership, and Amesbury Middle School in Amesbury was honored with the Henry Knox Award for Creative Citizenship. One of the three winning submissions will also be showcased during the July 4 celebration at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
You can watch the Ashfield submission below:
Presented by iCivics and sponsored by Fidelity Investments with support from MA250, the We Declare! Challenge invited Massachusetts 8th grade classrooms to create short videos of students reading and interpreting the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence, with opportunities to win scholarships, classroom funding, and statewide recognition.
Finalists were selected by a committee of educators and iCivics leaders, with winners chosen by a distinguished panel of judges including Governor Healey, First Lady Joanna Lydgate, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and leaders from education, government, business, and the arts.
"Congratulations to the winners of the statewide We Declare! Challenge and thank you to every student who participated. Learning our history, understanding how our democracy works and getting involved in your communities is so important to building a stronger future for Massachusetts," said Governor Maura Healey. "I am proud to support this amazing program and hope it continues to reach students across Massachusetts for years to come."
“I was truly amazed by the number and quality of entries we received,” said Rob Waldron, Founder of the We Declare! Challenge. “As we watched the videos come in, it became clear we weren’t looking at just one standout, there were multiple classrooms delivering something extraordinary. The goal has always been to meet students where they are and give them a way to engage directly with history, and these students did exactly that. They weren’t just reading words on a page; they were connecting them to their world and making them their own.”
The three winning classrooms were recognized with the following awards and prizes:
John Hancock Award for Excellence in Civic Expression:
- $2,500 scholarships for each 8th grade student in video submission
- $2,500 to Boston Green Academy
- $1,000 to the submitting teacher, Olivia Dehm
- School spirit event and prize presentation
- Planned broadcast of the winning video at the Boston Pops July 4th Firework Spectacular
- Tickets for teacher, each student, and one guardian per student to attend the celebration
John & Abigail Adams Award for Civic Leadership:
- $2,500 scholarships for each 8th grade student in video submission
- $1,500 to Ashfield Middle School
- $250 to the submitting teacher, Nancy Williams
- $250 to the classroom for materials or a celebration
Henry Knox Award for Creative Citizenship:
- $2,500 scholarships for each 8th grade student in video submission
- $1,500 to Amesbury Middle School
- $250 to the submitting teacher, Tia Costello
- $250 to the classroom for materials or a celebration
In addition to the top three winners, each participating class received a $100 gift card. The contest was open to all 8th grade classrooms across Massachusetts, including public, private, charter, and parochial schools, with the option for classrooms to submit multiple entries.
About iCivics
Founded in 2009 by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing civic learning by providing educators and students with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to embrace and engage in our civic life together. iCivics empowers educators and leads the movement to make civic education a nationwide priority so all young people have the confidence to shape the world around them and believe in our country’s future. To learn more, visit www.icivics.org.