THE CNMI America250 Commission, together with America250, the official national organization charged by Congress with commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, on Thursday proudly announced the 2025 “America’s Field Trip” awardees.
America’s Field Trip is a nationwide contest inviting students in grades 3–12 to reflect on the question: “What does America mean to you?” The 150 America’s Field Trip awardees hail from 41 states and 4 U.S. territories and were selected by a panel of current and former educators. Two students from the Northern Mariana Islands were selected as winners.
Thousands of students from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia submitted writing and artwork to the 2024-2025 America's Field Trip contest. The seventy-five first-place awardees will embark on immersive, unforgettable field trips to iconic American historical and cultural sites this summer, with seventy-five second-place awardees each receiving a $500 cash award. This marks the second group of America’s Field Trip awardees recognized by America250 and follows the successful pilot program launched in 2024.
“We are thrilled to have our talented students recognized as winners in this year’s America’s Field Trip contest. I believe providing opportunities for our youth to reflect on and visit our nation’s cultural and historical institutions is so important in forming their own identity as members of the American family,” said Leo Pangelinan, chair of the CNMI America250 Commission.
The awardees from the CNMI include:
First Place
• Aileen Kim, 5th Grade, Saipan Community School
Second Place
• Taemin Park, 11th Grade, Mount Carmel School
For a full list of awardees and a selection of winning submissions, visit america250.org/fieldtrip/awardees.
Each first-place awardee will choose one of the following specially curated experiences:
• Private tours of Boston Revolutionary War sites, including the Old North Church, the Paul Revere House, and Bunker Hill Monument
• Behind-the-scenes tour of the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and sleepover at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C.
• Exclusive visits to two Washington, D.C., institutions: a trip into the National Archives Vault and private tour of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
• Exclusive tour of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, and visit to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
• Walking tour of historic Lower Manhattan and a performance and opportunity to meet the company of Hamilton in New York CityStorytelling, history, and commemoration under the stars at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• Private tours of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, the International African American Museum, and the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, South Carolina
• Exclusive tours of the Alamo in San Antonio and the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas
• Backstage tour of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio
• Beyond the ropes tour of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Guided visit to Angel Island Immigration Station and candlelight tour of Fort Point at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California
• Private guided tour of Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming
• Ranger-led hikes and tours of the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado
• Private tour of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
“America’s Field Trip is a transformative opportunity for students across the country to engage with our nation’s history in meaningful, lasting ways," said Rosie Rios, chair of America250. “Our tentpole programs are intentionally designed to be hands-on, educational and engaging. America’s Field Trip truly brings the story of America to life and allows a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students to experience American history and national treasures up-close.”
CNMI America250 Commission
The CNMI America250 Commission is a special body established to lead the Northern Mariana Islands in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America on July 4, 2026. This includes celebrating the 50th anniversary of the enactment of U.S. Public Law 94-241 approving the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America on March 24, 2026.
America250
“America250’s mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial. We aim to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite us as a nation. America250 will foster shared experiences that spark imagination, showcase the rich tapestry of our American stories, inspire service in our communities, honor the enduring strength, and celebrate the resilience of the United States of America.”