The Junior Statesmen Foundation annouces new criteria and rewards for the Chapter of the Year Award and the newly created National Civic Impact Award.

Each year at Spring State conventions across the nation, the Junior Statesmen Foundation recognizes the most outstanding chapters in each of its jurisdictions.  The award is named in honor of JSA’s founder, Professor E.A. Rogers, who is more commonly referred to as “Prof. Rogers.” The idea for what is now known as the Junior State was first conceived by Prof. Rogers, headmaster of the Montezuma School in California's Santa Cruz Mountains in the early 1930s. Rogers had long maintained that one of the primary needs of a democracy was to train its youth in the essentials of good government. Rogers believed that without an informed populace, a democracy is worthless.

On an autumn evening in 1934, Prof. Rogers put the question before his students. Someone suggested a junior government -- an educational project to help create the statesmen and citizens of the future. Excited by the idea, the students began to set out the goals for their junior government. Non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-secret and non-profit, the organization would rise above the evils of propaganda and dirty politics. Students would not just learn about democracy, but would practice it among themselves.  The Chapter of the Year Award is given to schools that fulfill the ideals envisioned by Prof. Rogers.

Rewards for Winning the Chapter of the Year Award

1.        A plaque that can be engraved in order to be prominently displayed in your school’s award case.

2.        A $1,000 scholarship to a Junior Statesmen Summer School AND a full scholarship to a Junior Statesmen State Symposium for one member of the chapter.

3.        One free private room to the chapter’s Teacher/Advisor for all conventions the following year.

4.        Be one of the 10 chapters nominated for the inaugural Junior State of America’s National Civic Impact Award. 

The National Civic Impact Award

This year, The Junior State of America will inaugurate its National Civic Impact Award in order to recognize the chapter that has had the biggest impact on increasing the level of civic awareness and engagement at their school.  The award will go to one of the 10 chapters nationwide that were chosen as their state’s Chapter of the Year.  The winning chapter will receive:

1.        A plaque that can be engraved in order to be prominently displayed in your school’s award case.

2.        A $500 stipend reward to the chapter’s lead Teacher Advisor.

3.        A $2,000 grant to the chapter in order to continue their civic engagement.

How to be Recognized as the “Chapter of the Year”

Download a complete description of the Chapter of the Year Award and the National Civic Impact Award along with an applicaton form.