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American Revolution Legacy Grant Recipients for 2026

By Leslie Brinkley posted 5 days ago

  

American Revolution Legacy Grant Recipients for 2026

Total Grants Awarded: $65,909.23 - Number of Recipients: 20

The Community Classroom Committee is pleased to present the 2026 Legacy Grant recipients. The wide variety of creative ideas and schools represented the American Revolution Legacy Grant well. Grants were made possible by the Friends of Education Fund, the selling of education pins and the generosity of the President General's Project.

Thank you to National Vice Chairs Deborah Phillips, Jerre Robertson, and Missy Wilkinson for their enthusiasm and dedication to the process, the application, and judging for this grant program. A special thank you to the committee Executive Liaison, Curator General Renee Pace, for her encouragement and support of the Community Classroom Committee.

Name(s)

School Name

School District

Chapter/

State

Grant Amount

Summary of Program/Project

Rosemary W Rogers

Hazelwood Elementary School

Waynesville

Hugh Rogers Chapter, NC

$3500

The Camp Flintlock inhouse field trip brings an immersive Colonial and early Revolutionary War experience to Hazelwood Elementary, giving all students especially those without access to museums handson historical learning that builds a strong foundation for future U.S. history studies.

Jennifer Cammann and

Allison Blewett

Lake Murray Elementary School

Lexington County School District

Granby Chapter, SC

$3030.29

Students deepen their appreciation of American history through engaging books, creative roleplay conversations as Revolutionary figures, and enhanced reenactments supported by curated period clothing and accessories.

Amber Evans

Ms. Evans lives in IA

Pocahontas Area Elementary School

Pocahontas Area Community School District

Nathan Hale Chapter, MN

$2500

The Living Patriots project engages 4th graders in hands-on STEM, historical reenactment, and literacy activities to explore colonial life, inventions, and civic ideals of the American Revolution.

Jim Oatman

Van Horn High School

Independence, MO

Independence Pioneers Chapter, MO

$5000

Students in construction trades build rustic wooden American flags to honor community heroes, such as veterans, first responders, and educators, connecting the project to the Revolutionary-era flag as a symbol of hope and pairing each finished piece with a message of gratitude.

Jane Olson

Trinity Academy

Private school

Tabitha Moffitt Brown-David Hill Chapter, OR

$5000

The plan is to take high school students to Boston from October 21-25, 2026, to visit historic sites and attend lectures that explain the events leading to the American Revolution, helping students understand why British taxation was seen as a threat to their freedom.

Mark Williams

Bradley Central High School

Bradley County Schools district

Ocoee Chapter, TN

$1250

This project will establish a comprehensive historical uniform and interpretation program that allows students to research, wear, and present accurate representations of U.S. soldiers from major periods in American history, including the Revolutionary War and the modern era.

Melanie Lewis

Lew Wallace Elementary

Albuquerque Public Schools

Lew Wallace Chapter, NM

$2500

Lew Wallace Elementary is hosting a patriotic event called "Balloons Aloft/Honoring Our Patriotic Legacy" featuring a Flag ceremony by Jr. ROTC members and hot air balloon displays by pilots and taking field trip to Cultural Centers to explore exhibits celebrating America's 250th Birthday, focusing on Spanish American contributions to the Revolution and Navajo Code-Talkers of WWII.

Shauna Kay McCauley

Sun Path Elementary

Shakopee Public Schools

John Witherspoon Chapter, MN

$1500

During the American Revolution, maple sugar became a crucial local substitute for British sugar, supporting colonial communities and soldiers. A field trip to the MN arboretum and hands on tapping trees.

Julia (Jill) Lawless

Marina Village Middle School

Rescue Union School District

Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter, CA

$800

This instructional program examines espionage during the American Revolutionary War through a structured, immersive simulation in which students transmit intelligence, construct and decipher coded messages, and attempt to identify suspected spies. The curriculum emphasizes historical narrative and the contributions of everyday and lesser-known individuals involved in intelligence work. Student learning is reinforced through the analysis of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy in conjunction with nonfiction texts addressing Revolutionary War espionage, codes, and ciphers

Vicki Hines

Coles Ferry Elementary

Lebanon Special School District

Margaret Gaston Chapter, TN

$281.37

The American Symbols Museum is a curated school library exhibit featuring child-accessible models of eight iconic U.S. patriotic symbols with supporting texts. Approximately 600 students rotate through the display to engage with the artifacts and record observations using a developmentally appropriate graphic organizer. Students in grades 3–5 extend learning through text-based research, culminating in a brief survey to assess understanding.

Tawnya Herman

Legacy Christian Academy

Legacy Christian Academy

Belleville Chapter, IL

$5000

This interdisciplinary project examines the legacy of the American Revolution through inquiry, hands-on design, and creative production. Students research the Founding Fathers and early American life, conduct grandparent interviews to document family history, and develop colonial-inspired clothing and props through STEAM with support from DAR volunteers. The work culminates in a Thanksgiving performance for an audience of approximately 350 family and community members.

Laura Smith Crafton

Butler County Community Education/Bear's Den

Butler County

Butler County Chapter, KY

$5000

Bear’s Den will implement a year-round American Revolution and Kentucky Frontier learning initiative for K–6 students to enrich instruction in conjunction with the nation’s 250th anniversary. Students will examine the Revolution, Kentucky’s frontier role, and the conflict’s impact on life in the state through hands-on projects, thematic lessons, and small-group inquiry. The program will incorporate field trips, guest speakers, interactive activities, and cross-curricular experiences to strengthen literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving, supported by funding for essential materials and resources.

Lindsey Rose Wilson

Hardin Park School

Watauga County Schools

Daniel Boone Chapter, NC

$492.57

Funds will support the development of a Kindergarten play-based interactive learning center by purchasing manipulatives and materials that scaffold student research and informational writing. Students will use these resources to prepare reports to present during a July 4th/Independence Celebration with families and community stakeholders. Additional purchases will provide classroom celebration and display items, including colonial-themed props, historical figurines and cutouts, Revolutionary War play materials, and photo booth supplies.

Melinda Walker

Northside High School

Tuscaloosa Board of Education

Chief Tuskaloosa Chapter, AL

$5000

High school students will participate in a three-night educational program in Washington, D.C. designed to deepen historical understanding through direct engagement with primary sources and landmark sites. The itinerary includes analysis of foundational documents at the National Archives, study of civic institutions through the People’s House exhibit, and examination of George Washington’s legacy at Mount Vernon, alongside guided exploration of the National Mall and the Smithsonian museums. Students will further contextualize pivotal national events through site-based historical inquiry at Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House.

Christopher Hemler

University Liggett School

Private

Louisa St. Clair Chapter, MI

$4300

This cross-grade initiative leverages the school’s PreK–12 structure to connect older and younger learners through a shared study of the American Revolution. Upper-grade students adapt their DAR Patriots Contest research into age-appropriate children’s books, then read them aloud to younger classes and donate copies to classroom libraries. The program strengthens students’ ability to communicate historical research in multiple formats while expanding Revolution-focused learning across grade levels.

Linda Chappetto

Jack Young Middle School

Baraboo School District

Fay-Robinson Chapter, WI

$5000

The Baraboo School District seeks funding to partner with the Wisconsin Historical Society to provide the “Hands-On History” program for all students in grades 3–5. This initiative will bring museum-quality artifacts and inquiry-based instruction into classrooms, examining the period from the American Revolution (1754–1800) through Wisconsin statehood (1848). Through the “First Peoples and the Era of Exchange” and “Journeys” modules, students will investigate regional migration, cultural exchange, and the diverse communities that shaped early Wisconsin.

Jannes Garbett

St. Pius X School

Diocese of Covington

Rebecca Bryan Boone Chapter, KY

$755

The Spirit of ’76, a collaborative project with the Rebecca Bryan Boone DAR chapter, addresses the academic and personal growth of students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Students will have access to a variety of reading materials to promote comprehension skills, including read-aloud by DAR chapter members. Student-composed biographies of Revolutionary War veterans will complement the dedication of a granite monument in a local cemetery. An array of heirloom seedlings will be planted in an alphabet garden. Finally, a culminating event is planned in conjunction with Constitution Day in September 2026.

Cissie Gardner

Cabrini High School

Orleans

Spirit of '76 Chapter, LA

$5000

Art I students will complete a semester-long sketchbook portfolio examining the symbols, figures, and events of the American Revolution through structured research and studio practice. Emphasis is placed on analyzing Revolutionary-era imagery and how visual artists communicated patriotism, persuasion, and emerging national identity. Art II students will apply professional design principles to develop an original commemorative logo for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, informed by historical study, period art analysis, and contemporary branding practices.

Laura Baker

Hopkins Elementary School

Somerset Independent Schools

Somerset Chapter, KY

$5000

This schoolwide project culminates in a performance commemorating the American Revolution and the nation’s 250th anniversary. Students will present developmentally appropriate songs, narrated scenes, and visual displays that highlight pivotal people, events, and ideals that shaped the United States. The culminating event strengthens historical understanding while developing confidence, collaboration, and communication, and it engages families in a shared celebration of civic values.

Dr. Kristin Olbertson

Alma College

N/A

Jean Bessac Chapter, MI

$5000

This project immerses history majors in Michigan historic sites that interpret the political and economic tensions among fur traders, land speculators, and Indigenous nations that contributed to the Revolutionary era. Students will learn directly from public historians who model how scholarships are translated into accurate, accessible interpretations through site-based inquiry. The experience culminates in a community History Fair in March 2027, where students apply their learning by delivering public-facing education that builds local interest in the nation’s history.


                                                                                                                                               

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5 days ago

Thank you, Leslie, for posting the Legacy Grant recipients and the description of the programs and projects.  This list will give new applicants for the 2026-2027 Academic year ideas for new and original programs and projects.  Less than four weeks until the Legacy Grant opens this year on September 1, 2026!