U.S. Department of Education Announces Mario Lopez Will Host "PRESIDENTIAL 1776 AWARD" Special

Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced that television host and entertainment personality Mario Lopez will host the PRESIDENTIAL 1776 AWARD special, which will be broadcast Tuesday, June 30, (8:00-9:30PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream the next day on Paramount+. 

The national finals mark the conclusion of the first-ever Presidential 1776 Award competition, a nationwide civics challenge created to celebrate America's top high school students and their knowledge of our nation's founding principles. The Presidential 1776 Award National Finals will bring the top performers from each region to the nation's capital for a live, in-person competition, testing their knowledge of the Constitution, America's founding principles, and defining moments in U.S. history.

"We are thrilled to have Mario Lopez help bring these inspiring students and their impressive achievements to audiences nationwide," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "The Presidential 1776 Award celebrates academic excellence, a deep understanding of the Constitution, our nation's history, and the legacy of freedom that continue to shape our country. These students represent the very best of the next generation of American civic leadership."

"The Presidential 1776 Award is a unique opportunity to celebrate students who are passionate about civic knowledge and the American story," said Mario Lopez. "I'm honored to be part of something that shines a light on these bright young people who will carry our nation into the future."

Best known for his decades-long career in television and entertainment, Lopez will host the nationally televised broadcast special accompanying the competition, helping spotlight the stories and achievements of students from across the country.

Through the broadcast, audiences nationwide will have the opportunity to witness a televised special about this historic competition and celebrate the next generation of American civic leaders. The broadcast special is produced by Alongi Media, with Phil Alongi and Gideon Hayes serving as executive producers. 

About the Presidential 1776 Award 

The Presidential 1776 Award is a nationwide civics competition recognizing exceptional student knowledge of the American founding. The program establishes a national scholarship competition designed to promote civic literacy and celebrate academic excellence. 

The Presidential 1776 Award competition is comprised of three stages: 

Round One: During the week of February 22 to 28, 2026, students competed in The Impossible Civics Test, an online, timed, electronically proctored multiple-choice exam. Four finalists from each state and territory advanced. 

Round Two: On May 2, 2026, 173 state finalists competed in one of five in-person regional semifinal competitions. During these oral competitions, students answered short-answer questions that tested their understanding of the Constitution, the America's founding, and key moments in our nation's history. The top four students from each region advanced to the National Final. 

Round Three: The National Final will take place in Washington, D.C. on June 9, 2026. Students will compete in an oral academic competition earning points for eachcorrect answer. The top three finalists will win a total of $250,000 in scholarship prizes.  

Multiple-choice and oral examinations for all three rounds were developed independently by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. 

Background 

The Presidential 1776 Award is one of the Department's initiatives to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The Department has also launched the History Rocks! Trail to Independence Tour in partnership with Freedom 250 and in coordination with the America 250 Civics Education Coalition - a national partnership that includes the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and more than 50 national and state organizations. This coalition is dedicated to advancing civic education and expanding opportunities for students to learn about the ideas, individuals, and events that define the American story.