Competition Criteria:
CLARITY OF IDEA:
- How well does the entrant use both their personal and academic experiences to clearly address the question?
- Does the entry effectively convey ideas, emotion, or a story visually or with words by acknowledging the past or celebrating America’s achievements and possibilities for the future?
- Does the response offer fresh insight and innovative thinking?
STUDENT VOICE:
- Is there passion in the entry or a point-of-view that showcases a unique perspective on the diverse range of different experiences that make America unique in an original or authentic way?
PRESENTATION:
- What makes the submission content more compelling, fresh, or interesting than other entrants’ content in their grade level category?
Friends of Washington Statue
This London statue of George Washington, a replica of the one found in the Virginia State Capitol, will serve as the time capsule for the top entries of the 2025 Expressions of Freedom competition. It was presented to the British as a gift in 1921 and because legend says that Washington swore he would never set foot on British soil again, the statue was laid on the foundation of Virginia soil.
Click here to learn more about the statue and its restoration project.