Las Vegas Student Selected as First-Ever “America’s Field Trip” Awardee
Nevada Student to Receive Unforgettable Field Trip Experience as Part of Nationwide Scholastic Contest
[Reno, NV] — Today, the State of Nevada together with America250, the official nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, announced that one Las Vegas student is among the inaugural group of “America’s Field Trip” awardees. America’s Field Trip is a nationwide scholastic contest encouraging students to reflect on what America means to them, with first-place awardees receiving special behind-the-scenes experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites.
Thousands of students across the country sent in inspiring submissions responding to the prompt “What does America mean to you?” Out of those submissions, 75 were named first-place awardees, and 75 were selected as second-place awardees, receiving a $500 cash award.
The first-place awardee from Nevada is:
- Amelie M., Las Vegas, 7th Grade
A full list of the 150 nationwide awardees and their submissions is available at america250.org/fieldtrip/awardees.
First-place awardees will participate in one of the following unique and unforgettable field trip experiences this summer:
- Tour of the Statue of Liberty in New York
- Tour and hike at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana
- Weekend at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
- Unique tours at the National Archives and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
- Special tours at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, or the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
- Explore America’s iconic financial capital, New York City, with private tours of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Museum and Learning Center and The Bank of New York, the country’s oldest bank
- Experience National Parks of Boston with a special visit to the USS Constitution and a sunset cruise to Spectacle Island
- Candlelight tour at Fort Point at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge
- Costumed roleplaying experience at American Village in Alabama
“Las Vegas student and change maker Amelie is the embodiment of a patriotic Nevadan,” says Brenda Scolari, director of Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. “Her video entry, which landed her first-place award, illustrates how to be a successful citizen by seeing a problem and working with her local government to find solutions. We applaud her.”
“We’re thrilled to announce the first-ever America’s Field Trip awardees — 75 incredible students from across the country who will now embark on transformative field trip experiences where they’ll experience history outside of the classroom,” said America250 Chair, Rosie Rios. “We’re grateful for all of the students, teachers, and families who engaged around America’s Field Trip — one of the first big steps on our long journey together to the Semiquincentennial. As we advance towards July 4, 2026, America’s Field Trip will only get bigger, engaging thousands of students around our collective history and giving them a platform to actively participate in envisioning our future.”
A second round of America’s Field Trip contest will be announced in the Fall 2024 for entries.
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About America 250 | Nevada Commission
In 2026, the State of Nevada will join the nation in a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Along with partners in our communities, cultural, civic, and educational institutions, we will actively encourage every Nevadan to remember our past, celebrate our achievements, and dedicate ourselves to a promising future.
Our goals:
- Educate our community on the daily relevance of the Constitution.
- Engage Nevadans through civic participation, voting registration, and volunteerism.
- Celebrate the concepts that unite us.
About America250
America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is spearheaded by the congressionally appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its nonprofit supporting organization, America250.org, Inc, together known as America250. This multi-year effort kicked off with America’s Invitation on July 4, 2023: a national public engagement campaign inviting all Americans to share their stories and their hopes and dreams for the future of this country. Until July 4, 2026, America250 is working to provide opportunities for all Americans to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look to the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.
To learn more, visit America250.org, and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: press@america250.org | 203.641.6681
Francine Burge, Marketing & Communications
Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Fburge@dtca.nv.gov 775-230-5258