250 Towards 2050

2026 Cicero Historical Society Student Essay Contest — Official Rules

The Cicero Historical Society, in conjunction with the Town of Cicero Parks Department, invites students of the Cicero–North Syracuse Central School District to participate in the 2026 Student Essay Contest.

The contest is part of 250 Toward 2050, a community effort reflecting on 250 years of American history while looking ahead to Cicero’s future.

Essay Theme:

From American Revolution to Tech Evolution: How 250 Years of History Shaped Cicero — and What Cicero Might Become by 2050

Eligibility

The contest is open to students currently enrolled in the Cicero–North Syracuse Central School District.

Entries will be judged in three divisions:

• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School

Each student may submit only one essay.

Essay Requirements

Essays must address the official contest theme and demonstrate a meaningful connection between American, New York State, or local history and the development of the Cicero community.

Students should examine the historical events, people, ideas, inventions, technologies, social changes, or local developments they believe helped shape Cicero over the past 250 years and use that history to thoughtfully imagine what Cicero may become by the middle of the 21st century.

Suggested lengths are:

• Elementary School: 300–500 words
• Middle School: 500–750 words
• High School: 750–1,000 words

These are suggested lengths only. There is no minimum or maximum word limit. Students should use whatever length is necessary to fully develop their ideas.

Essays should be typed, double-spaced, and submitted in a readable 12-point font.

Middle- and high-school students should identify the historical sources used in preparing their essays. Students are encouraged to use primary sources whenever possible, including photographs, newspapers, letters, maps, census records, government records, oral histories, and other historical materials.

Original Work and Artificial Intelligence

All entries must represent the student’s own research, ideas, and writing.

Artificial intelligence tools may not be used to generate, substantially rewrite, or compose the essay. Basic spelling and grammar assistance is permitted.

The Cicero Historical Society reserves the right to disqualify an entry when there is reasonable evidence that the work is not substantially the student’s own.

Submission Period

Entries may be submitted beginning October 16, 2026.

All entries must be submitted through the Cicero Historical Society website and received no later than midnight on November 16, 2026.

Late entries will not be accepted.

Identifying Information

Student identifying information should be entered through the online submission form and should not appear within the essay itself, allowing entries to be judged anonymously.

The submission form will request the student’s:

• Name
• Grade
• School
• Parent or guardian contact information
• Teacher’s name

Judging

Essays will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by the Cicero Historical Society.

Entries will be judged on:

• Historical accuracy
• Connection to the contest theme
• Original thought and interpretation
• Use of historical evidence
• Organization and clarity
• Quality of writing appropriate to the student’s grade level
• The student’s ability to use the history explored in the essay to thoughtfully imagine the future of Cicero, New York, and the United States
• The strength of the connection between past developments and the student’s vision of life in Cicero by 2050

Judges’ decisions are final.

Awards

One winner will be selected from each division:

Elementary School — $250
Middle School — $250
High School — $250

Each winning essay will also be preserved as part of the Cicero 2050 Time Capsule, creating a record of how Cicero’s students viewed their community during America’s 250th anniversary year.

Publication and Recognition

Winning essays may be published by the Cicero Historical Society on its website, in Society publications, on social media, and in materials relating to the essay contest, 250 Toward 2050, and the Cicero 2050 Time Capsule.

Publication of a minor student’s name, photograph, or essay will be subject to appropriate parent or guardian permission.

Eligibility Restrictions

Members of the contest judging panel and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.

The Cicero Historical Society reserves the right to interpret these rules, resolve questions concerning eligibility or submissions, and disqualify entries that do not comply with the contest requirements.