Governor Kay Ivey is encouraging Alabama high school students to take part in a nationwide civics and American history competition as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this summer.

In a video message released Thursday, Ivey promoted the Presidential 1776 Award, a national challenge launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education to foster deeper understanding of America’s founding, civic traditions and principles of self-government.

“This summer, we will celebrate America’s 250th birthday — two and a half centuries of the greatest nation the world has ever known,” Ivey said in the video. “As we mark that milestone, we have a responsibility to prepare the next generation to carry it forward.”

The competition begins with the “Impossible Test,” an online civics exam open to high school students nationwide. Top-performing students from each state will advance to regional semifinals, with finalists competing in a nationally broadcast championship in Washington, D.C. Scholarship prizes totaling $250,000 will be awarded to top competitors.

Registration is open now. Alabama students must register online by Feb. 22, 2026. The online test will be available from Feb. 22 through March 1, 2026.

In her remarks, Ivey highlighted Alabama’s historic contributions to the nation, from the rockets built in Huntsville that carried astronauts to the moon to the ships constructed in Mobile to defend the country, and expressed confidence that an Alabama student could rise to the top of the competition.

“When it’s all said and done, I expect an Alabama student to be standing at the top,” Ivey said.