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Submission Guidelines 

Submission is open to US citizens and US-based young people who are between the ages of 13 and 19 and enrolled in middle or high school on January 1, 2026. Submission must be received by 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Only submissions entered through MyImpact Challenge’s online portal will be accepted for the contest. The contest is designed for one student per entry, but groups of up to five students may submit as a single group entry. Prizes awarded to group entries will be split evenly between entrants. Past winners of the MyImpact Challenge Grand Prize, First Prize, Second Prize, or Third Prize are not eligible to enter.

 

Each submission must include the following:

 

Qualifying service projects must have taken place between May 18, 2025 and May 17, 2026. Multi-year projects started before May 18, 2025 are eligible for entry if their activity continued after May 17, 2026. Projects that are ongoing as of May 17, 2026 are eligible for entry. Projects completed before May 18, 2025 are not eligible for entry.

Judging Rubric

PROJECT REPORT

Community Impact
Clearly demonstrates a meaningful impact on the community. At least two examples of meaningful impact should be demonstrated.
20 points
Components
Content includes five required components: project inspiration, project plan, details of the project execution, two examples of the project’s impact on a community of which the student is a part.
10 points
Knowledge Gained
Clearly explains several ways in which the student grew in understanding of the role of Civic Virtue, knowledge of their communities, and their ability to support or impact them.
10 points
Originality
Shows a large amount of original thought. Ideas are creative and inventive.
10 points
Mechanics
Content well organized, coherent, logical, and generally free of spelling and grammatical errors.
10 points
60 points

Essay

Mechanics
Coherent, logical, and persuasive writing that is generally free of spelling and grammatical errors.
10 points
Founding Principle
Clearly articulates at least one Founding Principle motivating the project as defined in the Bill of Rights Institute's Principles and Virtues.
10 points
Civic Virtue
Clearly articulates at least one Civic Virtue motivating the project as defined in the Bill of Rights Institute's Principles and Virtues.
10 points
30 points

Visual Documentation

Completion and Appropriateness
Photographs and/or video conformed to the submission guidelines and were appropriate.
2 points
Understanding
Photographs enhanced understanding of the project.
4 points
Impact
Photographs and/or video demonstrated the impact of the project on the community.
4 points
10 points