America’s 250th Anniversary

A Semiquincentennial Celebration: DSC Honors America at 250

In 2026, the United States marks its 250th Anniversary, and Daytona State College is proud to lead the celebration in Volusia and Flagler counties. This historic milestone—the Semiquincentennial—is more than just a birthday; it is a moment for our Falcon family to reflect on our shared history, celebrate our progress, and look forward to a bright future. Join us as we honor our nation’s founding and the ideals that shape our democracy throughout 2026!

Student Contests

In celebration of this historic milestone, Daytona State's College of Arts & Sciences is hosting three co-curricular, juried student contests:

Video & Photography Contest
Essay & Poetry Contest
Studio Arts Contest

Entries may be submitted February 1 through April 1, 2026. Judging and review will take place April 2-20, 2026.

Please note: By submitting an entry, I hereby agree that the DSC Judging Committee may use all or part of my submission without restriction for the benefit of College, in any and all publications or media, in any form, including on any of College’s web sites or social media sites and may do so without further consideration or remuneration to me, and without additional review or approval from me.

Contest details below.

Video & Photography Contest

Programs: Digital & Interactive Media Production (DIMP) and Photography

Digital & Interactive Media Production: Short video (60–180 seconds), motion graphics, digital storytelling

Photography: Single image or photo essay (3–5 images with brief written context)

Submit your entry here.

Literary Contest: Poetry & Essay

Poetry Contest
This category is limited to original poetic constructions that convey a positive reflection on America’s 250-year history. Themes may include freedom, national heritage, and civic responsibility. Poems are to be the exclusive property of the writer who submits the work and cannot have won any placement in a former contest or have been previously published. No more than two submissions per student will be accepted.

a. Poems should be the express and complete work of the student who submits the work.

b. Poetry submissions must be limited in length to 40 lines, single spaced, with no identifying information on the poem other than the unique title.

c. For winning poems, characters-per-line may need to be adjusted to fit electronic publication format.

d. Poems must have a unique title which offers theme, thesis, or content distinction to the work.

Essay Contest
Introduction:
a. Briefly explain the importance of the historic anniversary and what drew you to help the college celebrate this 250th Anniversary.
b. It is important to follow all the guidelines.

Format Guidelines:
· The reflection should be 400-500 words in length.
· The reflection should be composed using Microsoft Word.
· Reflections should consist of your unique content and should be completed without the use of AI generative tools.

Evaluation Criteria:
· Depth of Reflection: Reflection should include insights on your knowledge of the topic.
· Clarity and Coherence: Writing should be clear, well-organized, and easy to follow.
· Grammar and Mechanics: Use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Submit your entry here.

Studio/Visual Art Contest

Daytona State College invites currently enrolled students to participate in a juried visual art competition celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. This co-curricular exhibition supports Florida’s America 250 initiative and highlights the creativity, perspective, and talent of DSC students across disciplines.

Eligible Media: All submissions must be original works of art.

Painting
Drawing
Digital art/graphic design
Mixed media
2D and 3D works

Eligibility & Submission Guidelines:

Open to all currently enrolled Daytona State College students.
Participation is optional and not connected to coursework.
All submitted work must be display ready.
2D works must be framed.
Entries will be reviewed by a jury.

Submit your entry here.

250th Anniversary Events at Daytona State

Inaugural Sunshine State Debate
February 15-17, 2026
Tallahassee, FL

The First Annual Sunshine State Debate will unite students from the Florida College System for a Reagan-style debate inspired by previous presidential debates. Our Falcons will not only participate in the debate, but also engage in tours of our state Capitol, meet with State leaders and be recognized during Florida’s 2026 legislation session.

Statewide Welding Challenge
Spring 2026

Daytona State College's Welding Program is participating in the statewide competition to create welding and fabrication art inspired by America’s 250th anniversary. This contest, sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, will highlight student creativity with sculptures, plaques or other metalwork displays. Winners will be selected by the Florida Commissioner of Education and announced in advance of July 4, 2026. Stay tuned for more details!

America's 250th Anniversary Facts

1776

1776 marks the historic birth of the United States as a sovereign nation. By adopting the Declaration of Independence that year, the Continental Congress launched a 250-year legacy of democracy and self-governance.

56 courageous delegates risked everything to sign the Declaration of Independence. These individuals, from various walks of life, committed a bold act of treason to birth the nation we celebrate two and a half centuries later.

13 original colonies put aside their regional differences to form a single, united Union. This foundational group of settlements grew from the thirteen stars on the first flag to the fifty stars we honor on this 250th anniversary.

2.5

2.5 million people lived in the colonies when independence was first declared. Since our founding, the American population has grown over 130 times larger, now totaling more than 342 million diverse citizens.