Show How Your Hometown Fits Into the Larger Story of America
Every hometown has a voice, a legacy, and a story worth telling. This contest invites you to highlight the people, places, and traditions that define your community—and connect them to the broader American experience.
Weaving Together the Rich, Diverse Fabric of Our Nation
Who Can Enter?
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a U.S. high school student currently in Grade 11 or 12
- Enter as an individual (one video per student)
- Submit an original video made specifically for this contest
What Do I Need to Submit?
Your submission must include:
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A 2 to 3-minute video (.MP4 or .MOV, minimum 1080p)
Your full name, school, grade level, and email -
A short written summary (150–200 words) describing your video’s story and inspiration
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If your video uses a non-English language, include subtitles
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A signed consent form (if you’re under 18)
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Your video must be your original work—created by you for this contest.
Small Towns – Big Stories
How Will Videos Be Judged?
A panel of judges—including educators, media professionals, historians, and civic leaders—will score submissions using the following criteria:
Storytelling
Is the message compelling and clear?
Creativity
Relevance
Does it reflect the theme “America’s Hometown Stories”?
Technical Quality
Is the video easy to watch and understand?
Emotional Impact
Does it make a lasting impression?
Legal & Ethical Guidelines
To ensure fairness, safety, and respect for all participants, please follow these legal and ethical guidelines when creating and submitting your video:
Original Work Only
All videos must be entirely your own original creation, made specifically for this contest.
Do not use copyrighted music, video clips, or images unless you have permission or they fall under fair use (like royalty-free or public domain resources). Entries that include copyrighted material without proper rights will be disqualified.
Consent Is Required
If you feature anyone else in your video—whether they speak, appear on camera, or are identifiable in photos or footage—you must get their permission first.
- A signed consent form is required for anyone visibly featured
- If you’re under 18, your parent or guardian must also sign a Parental Consent Form
This protects you and the people in your story.
You Own It—We Celebrate It
Your video remains your intellectual property.
However, by entering the contest, you grant HelloNation and its partners the right to share, promote, and showcase your work (with credit to you) on websites, social media, and during public events as part of the America 250 celebration.
Keep It Respectful
Entries must not include any content that is:
- Offensive
- Discriminatory
- Hateful
- Violent or threatening