PHILADELPHIA, PA – February 16, 2026 – National History Day® (NHD) and Carpenters’ Hall are proud to announce the third Young People’s Continental Congress (YPCC), which will again be held in Philadelphia from July 19 to 25. Carpenters’ Hall, the home of the nation’s First Continental Congress in 1774, has engaged National History Day as its lead educational partner to produce a one-of-a-kind program for students and teachers from across the United States and its territories.
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 28 teams will travel to Philadelphia to participate in the third YPCC. Each team consists of one high school student and one teacher, for a total of 56 delegates. This year’s YPCC delegates represent diverse communities across the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and Department of Defense (DoDEA) schools in the Netherlands and Puerto Rico.
Before the program culminates in Philadelphia, the student-teacher teams will complete online learning modules throughout spring 2026 about the Continental Congress and the ways our founding ideals evolved through U.S. history. In Philadelphia from July 19-25, teams will experience a week of special programming, including field learning opportunities at Carpenters’ Hall, Independence National Historical Park, the National Constitution Center, the Museum of the American Revolution, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Delegates will also co-create and sign a joint declaration of their aspirations for American democracy, just as their historical counterparts issued the Declaration of Colonial Rights and the Declaration of Independence.
“Engaging with students to reflect on their aspirations for democracy is a powerful way to inspire the next generation of historians and leaders,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “YPCC provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students and teachers to better understand and engage with the founding principles of democracy, especially this year during the 250th anniversary of our nation. NHD is excited to once again lead this program with Carpenters’ Hall and support the teaching and learning of early American history from multiple perspectives.”
“We are excited to partner with NHD once again on the third national convening of the Young People’s Continental Congress,” said Carpenters’ Hall Executive Director Michael Norris. “There’s no work more important to us than inspiring the leaders of tomorrow to value our history and understand their role as citizens, and there’s no better time to do that than the Semiquincentennial year of 2026.”
Congratulations to the students and teachers selected for the 2026 Young People’s Continental Congress:
Alaska
Ms. Elizabeth Bender & Tessa Davis
Kodiak High School, Kodiak
American Samoa
Ms. Grace Alesana & Jaceyline Foketi Siliva
Manumalo Academy, Malaeimi
Arkansas
Mr. Randall Crawford & Ashley Luna Hernandez
Little Rock Southwest Magnet High School, Mabelvale
California
Ms. Aditi Doshi & Grey Doshi
Van Nuys High School, Tarzana / Taft Charter High School, Woodland Hills
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Ms. Elizabeth Basa & Cyrena Ada
Kagman High School, Saipan
Connecticut
Mr. John Smith-Horn & Suhani Kapil
Timothy Edwards Middle School / South Windsor High School, South Windsor
Delaware
Mrs. Emily Green & Sarah Mercer
Polytech High School, Woodside
Florida
Mrs. Sarah Smith & Giselle Agguire-Perea
Haines City Senior High School, Haines City
Georgia
Mrs. Bonnie Garvin & Jayden Wojcik
Jasper County High School, Monticello
Hawai’i
Mr. Jason Duncan & Ellie Takara
Mililani High School, Mililani
Illinois
Ms. Arlysha Bovan-Morrow & Janeen Mahmoud
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, Palos Hills
Indiana
Ms. Dawn Crowe and Layla Gregory
Brownsburg High School, Brownsburg
Iowa
Mrs. Carrie Baird-Forristall & Sanjana Payawala
Urbandale High School, Urbandale
Kansas
Mr. Jeffrey Schuh & Emmanuel Armstead
Seaman Middle School / Seaman High School, Topeka
Mississippi
Mr. Chuck Yarborough & Makayla Wrenn
Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus
Missouri
Mr. Mack Williams & Jeremiah Bow
Sumner High School, St. Louis
Montana
Ms. Cynthia Wilondek & Caton Fought
Bigfork High School, Bigfork
Nebraska
Mrs. Kim Henry & Morgan Rademacher
Loup City High School, Loup City
The Netherlands
Ms. Casey Burkhardt & Sophia Wick
AFNORTH International School, Brunssum
New Mexico
Ms. Sheila Uy & Megan Zunie
Twin Buttes Cyber Academy, Zuni
North Carolina
Ms. Kitt Starnes & Lily Atwill
Isaac Bear Early College High School, Wilmington
Ohio
Mrs. Lauren Noble & Ruthie Cannon
Dominion Middle School / Whetstone High School, Columbus
Oregon
Mrs. Stefanie Spivey & Lita Nelson
Heppner Junior/Senior High School, Heppner
Pennsylvania
Mrs. Amanda Pagnotta & Bella Procopio
Burrell High School, Lower Burrell
Puerto Rico
Mr. Tim Proskauer & Natalia Acosta
Ramey Unit School, Aguadilla
Texas
Mrs. Kristen Shaver & Ascher Vicini
Hornedo Middle School / Franklin High School, El Paso
West Virginia
Mr. John Quesenberry & Kofi Ackon-Annan
Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley
Wisconsin
Ms. Jaclyn Jecha & Ella Hunley
New Berlin West Middle and High School, New Berlin
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About National History Day: NHD is a non-profit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. Established in 1974, NHD currently engages more than half a million students each year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest and supports teachers through professional development opportunities. Students present their research as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Projects compete first at the local and affiliate levels, where the top entries are invited to the annual National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by the Joyful Noise Charitable Foundation, The Better Angels Society, Bezos Family Foundation, Library of Congress, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Behring Global Educational Foundation, 400 Years of African American History Commission, and the National Park Service. For more information, visit nhd.org.
About Carpenters’ Hall: A National Historic Landmark, Carpenters’ Hall was built in the early 1770s and hosted the First Continental Congress, one of the most significant events in the founding of our nation, in 1774. The Hall is located in Independence National Historical Park, though the building is privately owned and maintained by the nonprofit Carpenters’ Company. Founded in 1724, The Carpenters’ Company is the nation’s oldest continuously operating trade guild. Carpenters’ Hall receives around 100,000 visitors annually, and donations enable site maintenance and free admission. For more information, visit www.carpentershall.org.
About Young People’s Continental Congress: The Young People’s Continental Congress is a unique educational program that allows students and teachers to work in teams as they collaboratively study America’s founding era and its lasting implications today. After completing five virtual learning modules throughout spring 2026 with historians of the Revolutionary Era, the student-teacher teams will travel to Philadelphia in July for an exciting week of on-site learning opportunities across the city. Thanks to the generosity of YPCC’s donors, all student and teacher delegates participate in the program and travel free of charge, making YPCC accessible for every participant. YPCC is generously supported by the Philadelphia City Council through the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, William Penn Foundation, Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, Independence Foundation, Le Vine Foundation, Kimmel Family Foundation, Philadelphia Foundation, Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution Color Guard, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Philadelphia, AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate, America250 Foundation, Bergman Foundation, Connelly Foundation, Sylvia W. & Randle M. Kauders Foundation, Independence Historical Trust, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, AMTRAK, Founding Forward, WHYY, Amy Branch and Jeff Benoliel, Terry and Ann Marie Horner, Terry Graboyes, Marguerite Lenfest, John Medveckis, The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Kathy Sachs and Deborah Webster.
MEDIA CONTACTS: communications@nhd.org // DKCNHD@dkcnews.com
