Young Americans may not be able to vote, but their voices are powerful, and they’re already dreaming of the world they’ll someday lead. Their ideas on topics from education to energy could shape our democracy and even influence today’s decision-makers.
USA TODAY has partnered with Students United News Network (SUNN)—a nonprofit organization publishing the nation’s best student journalism and civic media—to launch a series of nonpartisan contests calling on middle and high schoolers to share their vision of America.
Make Your Speech, the second contest in this series, invites young Americans to step up to the political podium and imagine that they’ve just been elected president and are delivering their first inaugural address. Their speech should describe their agenda for the next four years in a way that inspires, educates, motivates, and calls people together across political divides.
Some of today’s most influential creators, thinkers, and civic leaders will judge students’ speeches. Together, they’ll not just be looking for great performances from young presidents; they’ll also be looking for bold ideas, provocative questions, well-researched solutions, and a unifying vision for the future of our democracy.
The contest portal opened for submissions on September 10, 2026, and will close at midnight Pacific time on October 30, 2026. Students in grades 5–12 (or a parent/guardian for students aged 12 and younger) can enter this contest by submitting a two- to three-minute video delivering the inaugural presidential address, along with the written text of the speech. Students’ entries will be judged in two categories: middle school and high school. First-place winners in each category will receive $1,000; second-place winners, $750; and third-place winners, $500.
When learners participate in the Make Your Speech contest, they’re working toward achieving education standards outlined in the nationally recognized College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework, as well as core English language arts standards. The contest website offers standards-aligned ideas for bringing Make Your Speech into the classroom. The resources include the C3 Framework and core standards alignment for contest participation, a speech analysis contest introduction lesson plan, a 40-minute activity, student printouts, a letter to parents, and teacher slides.
Teachers can adapt the contest to fit their curriculum and use it to teach a variety of lessons in social studies, English, speech/debate, public speaking, and drama classes.
The contest is not just an opportunity for the rising generation to share their vision for the future. It’s also an opportunity for adults to learn from the dreams, worries, and priorities of young voices that often go unheard.