WHAT IS THE SAR MIDDLE SCHOOL BROCHURE CONTEST?
The SAR Middle School Contest is to create a tri-fold brochure out of a typical 8 ½” x 11″ piece of paper. The brochure must conform to the contest theme which is one the nine foundational documents of the United States which the student selects. The brochure will be judged on: Content, Creativity and Correctness. The judging criteria rates highest personally drawn art work and text authored by the student as opposed to cut and paste from books, magazines and the Internet. The use of software tools by the student for creating the brochure, and even the art work, is permissible.
LOCAL, STATE, and NATIONAL PRIZES: Local Chapter and State prizes vary by State and by Local Chapter. National prize awards are established each year. The NSSAR and the Americanism Committee intend to increase our cash prizes to approach parity with other national contest cash prizes for this age group. The ‘official’ name of the contest, and in whose name the award will be made, is the Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest. HOW DOES THE CONTEST WORK? The contest consists of three levels. The first level is sponsored by the local SAR Chapter. Chapter winners advance to the State level. The first-place State winner then advances into the SAR national competition to compete for the national prizes. All entries begin at the local Chapter level. The only exception is when schools/classes/youth groups wish to conduct their own competition and submit one winner to the local SAR Chapter competition. Individual students do not submit their entry directly to the Chapter. All entries must go through a school, scouting organization, or C.A.R. Society. Even home-school submissions must go through their association. The participating Chapter should be within the local area of the young person entering the contest. WHO CAN ENTER? The SAR Brochure Contest is open to all 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade middle school students in public, private, and home schools. When school systems are participating in the contest, students will enter through their school system. If their school system is not participating, students may enter directly to the chapter through scouting or the CAR (Children of the American Revolution). Regardless of how the student enters, they may enter only one brochure per year. Each brochure must be created by the individual student; group entries are not allowed. The contest supports educational efforts in public, private, and homeschool curricula when the Revolutionary period is taught, but students may enter in any middle school year. HOW DO I GET STARTED?
- Ask your teacher, or C.A.R., or scouting adult leader to supervise the SAR Brochure Contest.
- Ask them to contact a local SAR Chapter within your local area for deadlines and guidelines.
- Make sure you conform to the guidelines and rules of the contest provided by SAR (below).
- Deadlines vary among Chapters – Make sure that your teacher or adult leader learns the appropriate deadline for your local SAR Chapter.
HOW WILL I BE JUDGED? You will be judged on how well you understand, develop, and present the specific foundational document you selected to be your brochure’s theme. Brochures will be judged at the National level focusing on the following three categories: Content; Creativity & Correctness. Authorship and Use of Technology: The judging criteria rate highest personally drawn artwork and authored text by the student as opposed to cut-and-paste from books, magazines, and off the Internet – though use of material from books, magazines, and the Internet does not disqualify an entry, it is just valued less during judging. The use of software tools by the student for creating the brochure, and even the artwork, is permissible. WHAT IS THE THEME? The SAR Brochure Contest theme is currently any of these nine (9) Foundational Documents of the United States :
- Articles of Association of 1774
- The Virginia Declaration of Rights 1776
- Declaration of Independence 1776
- Articles of Confederation 1777-1781
- General Washington’s Resignation as Commander of the Continental Army 1783
- U.S. Constitution 1787
- Federalist Papers 1788
- Bill of Rights 1791
- President Washington’s farewell Address 1796
Starting in the school year 2023-2024 and for the following ten years, the Brochure contest will also include the creation of brochures based on the celebration of 250th anniversary events of the Revolutionary period. These themes and celebration of these events include:
- 1773- 2023 The Boston Tea Party
- 1774- 2024 The First Continental Congress
- 1775- 2025 The Battles of Lexington and Concord
- 1776- 2026 The Battle of Princeton and Valley Forge Encampment
- 1777- 2027 The Battle of Saratoga
- 1778- 2028 The French Alliance
- 1779- 2029 The Siege of Vincennes or Fort Sackville Battle of Kettle Creek
- 1780- 2030 Battle of Kings Mountain
- 1781- 2031 Siege of Yorktown
- 1782- 2032 Battle of Blue Licks
- 1783- 2033 Treaty of Paris
Therefore, this year 2024-2025 school year, students can chose from the nine foundational documents as well as the Fist Continental Congress and The Battles of Lexington and Concord.
Submission Deadlines – Please Read This
A Message to Students, Parents, and Educators
The date on this page is not the date a student, parent, or teacher turns an entry in to a chapter.
SAR contests move in three steps:
- Student submits to a local Chapter
- Chapter winner goes to the State Society
- State winner is due at National Headquarters on the date below
Chapter deadlines are usually about two months before the National date and differ by chapter. Example: If National Deadline is March 15, a local Chapter Deadline may be due sometime in January.
Contact your local Chapter for the date that applies to you. Find a chapter by searching “Sons of the American Revolution near me,” or through your State Education Chair at this link:
https://www.sar.org/state-education-chairs/
Dates the SAR State Society Winning Entries Must Be Received at Headquarters
History Teacher Grant. February 10
SAR Elementary School Poster Program: June 1
Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Program: February 15
George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Program: March 15
Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Program: May 15
National ROTC/JROTC Recognition Program: April 15
Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest: June 1
Youth Video Program: February 15
| Brochure Contest Category Judging Aid | Click Here |
| Brochure Contest Entry Form | Click Here |
| Brochure Contest Examples | Click Here |
| Brochure Contest Rules | Click Here |
| Brochure Contest Theme Judging Aid | Click Here |
WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES AND RULES? There are two sets of guidelines and rules:#1 How to Construct the Brochure; and#2 How to display and arrange the Content within the Brochure.#1
CONSTRUCTION INSTRUCTIONS:1. Brochure Construction: Created by a student – Not by a group.2. Brochure Theme: Choose from any of the six (6) Foundational Documents of the United States as the theme for your brochure: Articles of Confederation; Declaration of Independence; U.S. Constitution; Bill of Rights; or Federalist Papers.3. Brochure Size: The brochures should be made from a single 8 ½” x 11″ piece of paper. Fold the paper according to the instructions provided for the contest. The content of the various panels should align with the instructions provided. 4. Paper thickness & Color: Use any common paper, as long as the final product can be folded closed as a tri-fold 8 ½” x 11″ brochure. White paper is most common, but pastel or colored paper is acceptable.5. Artwork: Ideas are the most important element in these brochures, and the art is merely a means of conveying those ideas. All personally drawn artwork on brochures is highly valued, including artwork created by the young person using software. Tracing is also acceptable, and simple drawings that represent complex concepts are encouraged for those who may doubt their artistic skills. 6. Pasting: Pasting personally drawn artwork onto a master is permitted. Do not paste pictures from magazines, books, or off the Internet, or make extensive use of clip art.7. Text: The written text is commonly hand-printed. Typed text sections (even pasted on) are also permitted. [CAUTION: This needs to be original text written by the student – not clipped from magazines, books or taken off the Internet.] 8. Identification: See below ‘SAR Brochure Panels Explained’. Make special note that the student’s name and school on the Back Panel of the brochure is covered by a 3″x 3″ Post-It® note throughout all judging at the Chapter, State and National level.9. Brochure entries may be disqualified for these reasons: (a) did not adhere to the Americanism Theme; (b) is not 8 ½” x 11″ in size; (c) is not a tri-folded brochure (cannot be folded).10. Judging: Brochures will be judged focusing on the following elements: a. Content b. Creativity c. Correctness11. PRIZES INCLUDE: Awards and Cash! Prizes & Awards for local contests vary by SAR Chapter and by State. The National Cash Prizes are set each year before the NSSAR Annual Congress. The “SAR Brochure Contest Rules-at-a-Glance” contains the most current list of prizes.#2
CONTENT INSTRUCTIONS: Fold a single 8 ½” x 11″ piece of paper into three equal-size panels – a tri-fold. There will be six panels, counting inside and outside. The following is an explanation of what each panel of the brochure should contain:
a. Cover: A title and a picture. b. Inside Cover: Picture to accompany the introduction. It may also include a brief caption or explanation of the picture. c. First inside panel when Cover is opened (while folded): An introduction that presents the basic facts of the event and succinctly states the main idea presented in the interior of the brochure. The introduction should include a title, be written in paragraph form, and clearly communicate the brochure’s overarching concept. d. Two inner panels: A detailed explanation of the student’s ideas about the theme. This written explanation should provide a systematic argument persuading the reader to the point of view of the author; that is, it should be a persuasive essay. The writing should be clear, well organized, and convincing. These panels may also contain pictures and/or artwork that make the brochure more aesthetically appealing. Some questions that may be helpful for the students to consider when completing these panels would include: i. What are the lessons for our country within this document?
ii. How does this document reflect American society and American values?
iii. What thoughts do you have regarding the sacrifices made by the participants who drafted this document?
iv. What was the outcome of this document and how did this outcome impact American history?
v. What motivated the participants to be a part of creating this document?
vi. Could you have been a participant in creating this document? e. Back Panel: The following information needs to be included in the exact order specified on the back panel of the brochure inside a 2 ½” x 2 ½” framed box. Failure to include this information, and to contain all the information in the 2 ½” x 2 ½” framed box, can result in a lower ranking during the competition.i. Student’s Name: First, Middle Initial, and Last
ii. School District
iii. School Name: school name; or C.A.R. Society; or Scouting Troop
iv. Grade in School: (in California – 8th Grade) + School Year: 20xx-yy
v. Student’s Teacher’s/Adult Leaders Name:
vi. SAR Code: (provide to teacher): e.g. TX for Texas + SAR Chapter name[NOTE 1: When a Brochure is submitted from another source, other than a school, e.g. C.A.R. Society, or home schooled child, reflect that in the info block.][NOTE 2: SAR will conceal the above personal information throughout the judging process using a 3″x 3″ Post-It® note.]WHO WAS SGT. MOSES ADAMS?A Soldier of the American Revolution November 30, 1748 – June 13, 1778In 2011 the Sons of the American Revolution [SAR] named one of its National Youth Programs “The Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest,” honoring a representative Soldier of the American Revolution who made the ultimate sacrifice. Moses Adams of New Marlborough, Massachusetts joined with his brothers and neighbors and marched with their Minute Man Company in response to the Alarm of Lexington and Concord, April 21, 1775. He then joined the Continental Army and rose to the rank of Sergeant in the 13th Massachusetts Line. He died at Valley Forge June 13, 1778.The SAR dedicates its annual middle school program, as a living memorial, to honor the thousands of men and woman who, like Sgt. Adams, gave their lives for the cause of freedom, and also to their families who suffered their loss for generations.
For more information, please contact the Chairman of the Americanism Committee, C. Louis Raborg Jr. at raborg1989@verizon.net
Contest Winners
| RECIPIENT’S NAME | SAR SOCIETY & CHAPTER | PLACEMENT & YEAR |
|---|---|---|
| Catherine Haselwood | Kentucky Society | 1st – 2026 |
| Kayla Montiel | Texas Society | 2nd – 2026 |
| Piper G. England | Alabama Society | 3rd – 2026 |
| Yan Weng | Pennsylvania Society | 1st – 2025 |
| Madeline Maragh | Florida Society | 2nd – 2025 |
| Grace Miller | Missouri Society | 3rd – 2025 |
| Avantika Satheesh | Georgia Society | 1st – 2024 |
| Peyton E. Boyles | Arizona Society | 2nd – 2024 |
| Mary Grace Casem | Maryland Society | 3rd- 2024 |
| Rebecca Platt | California Society | 1st – 2023 |
| Abigail Humber | Texas Society | 2nd – 2023 |
| Caroline Meerholz | Arizona Society | 3rd – 2023 |
| Sinclair B. Smith | California Society | 1st – 2022 |
| Katie M. Trizzino | Georgia Society | 2nd – 2022 |
| Summer L. Wolf | Indiana Society | 3rd – 2022 |
| Kathrine Cain | Alabama Society | 1st – 2021 |
| Maddox Lewis | Georgia Society | 2nd – 2021 |
| Emelia Escobar | Arizona Society | 3rd – 2021 |
| Jacey L. Carlisle | North Carolina Society/Halifax Resolves Chapter | 1st – 2020 |
| Stephanie N. Griffin | Georgia Society/Piedmont Chapter | 2nd – 2020 |
| Jackson S. Torrans | Ohio Society/Cincinnati Chapter | 3rd – 2020 |
