Celebrate 250
Video Essay Contest

Presented by:

America at 250: From St. Louis to the Nation

Our Past, Our Responsibility, Our Future

Students in grades 3–12 are invited to create a 1–2 minute video essay sharing how St. Louis shaped America and how their generation can help build the future.

Submissions closed September 30 · Winners announced soon.

CELEBRATE SAINT LOUIS VIDEO ESSAY CONTEST

Thank You

To every student, parent, teacher, and community partner who submitted a video — thank you for telling us where Saint Louis is going next. The response blew us away.

Submissions closed September 30, 2026. Our judging panel is reviewing every entry.

Winners will be announced soon.

Scholarship Awards

Grades 3–5

➤ 1st Place — $1,500

➤ 2nd Place — $1,000

Grades 6–8

➤ 1st Place — $1,500

➤ 2nd Place — $1,000

Grades 9–12

➤ 1st Place — $3,000

➤ 2nd Place — $2,000

Total Scholarship Pool: $10,000

Who Can Enter

Open to students in grades 3–12

Videos must be 1–2 minutes long

Videos may be in English, dubbed, or subtitled

Parent or guardian consent is required

Entries must be original student work

The contest is open to students throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Please see the FAQs for a complete list of eligible counties.

Video Requirements

Accepted Formats

  • MP4

  • MOV

  • YouTube Link

  • Vimeo Link

Requirements

  • Video length: 1–2 minutes

  • Clear audio and video quality

  • Original content only

  • Appropriate language and visuals

How Videos Will Be Reviewed

Entries will be reviewed by age bracket using four criteria:

  1. Thoughtfulness and understanding

  2. Creativity and originality

  3. Connection to the theme

  4. Clarity and storytelling

Contest Timeline

May 27 – September 30

Submission Window

October 15

Winner Announcement

How Entries Will Be Judged

  • Creativity & Originality

  • Connection to Theme

  • Storytelling & Clarity

  • Thoughtfulness & Understanding

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. A phone video is fine.

  • The contest is open to students living in the greater St. Louis metropolitan region, including select counties in Missouri and Illinois.

    Eligible Missouri counties:
    St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties.

    Eligible Illinois counties:
    Jersey, Madison, St. Clair, Clinton, and Monroe Counties.

    Any submissions outside of these counties may be considered at the discretion of the judges.

  • Students may include:

    • Narration

    • Photos or drawings

    • Interviews

    • Music (must be copyright-approperiate)

    • Original artwork or storytelling

    *All submissions must be appropriate for public viewing.

  • Selected videos may appear:

    • On the Celebrate Saint Louis website

    • On social media platforms

    • In promotional or educational materials related to the contest

  • Yes. Videos may be publicly displayed, all participants under 18 must have a parental or guardian consent submitted with their entry.

  • No. Immediate family members of contest judges and sponsors are not eligible to participate.

  • Celebrate St. Louis hopes to amplify youth voices, encourage civic reflection, and connect the region’s rich history to the next generation’s vision for America’s future.