Usha Vance names 3 winners of America 250 bookmark design challenge
Synopsis
Three schoolchildren — from California, Florida, and Georgia — have been named winners of the America 250 Bookmark Design Challenge by Second Lady Usha Vance and the NEA. Their hand-drawn bookmarks, chosen from entries nationwide, will be celebrated at the Great American State Fair in late June, spotlighting how the US semiquincentennial is being woven into classrooms across the country.
Key Takeaways
Second Lady Usha Vance announced the winners of the Bookmark Design Challenge: Celebrating America's 250th on 30 May .
The competition was organised in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and was open to students in grades K–8 nationwide.
Winners: Iris Zhang (Fremont, CA), Margaret McCaul (Jacksonville, FL), and Eden Pethel (Pendergrass, GA).
Winning designs were selected for creativity, artistic skill, and engagement with American history, community, and civic themes.
The three winners will be recognised at the Great American State Fair , running 25 June – 10 July .
The challenge is part of broader America 250 semiquincentennial commemorations involving schools, artists, and cultural institutions.
Second Lady Usha Vance on 30 May announced the three winners of the Bookmark Design Challenge: Celebrating America's 250th, a nationwide art competition for elementary and middle school students organised in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The initiative invited students across the United States to create hand-drawn bookmarks reflecting what America means to them, ahead of the country's semiquincentennial celebrations.
The Three Winners
Iris Zhang, a first-grader from Fremont, California, took the top spot in the kindergarten-through-second-grade category. Margaret McCaul, a third-grader from Jacksonville, Florida, won the third-through-fifth-grade category. Eden Pethel, an eighth-grader from Pendergrass, Georgia, claimed the sixth-through-eighth-grade title. Organisers noted that the winning designs stood out for their creativity, artistic skill, and thoughtful engagement with America's past, present, and future.
What the Competition Asked of Students
Open to students in grades K–8 nationwide, the challenge encouraged young artists to explore themes including American history and traditions, symbols of unity and democracy, community life, and hopes for the nation's future. The brief was deliberately broad, allowing students to interpret patriotism through their own cultural and personal lenses.
What the Organisers Said
'It was so special to participate in this year's bookmark design challenge as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary,' Usha Vance said. 'Art plays such an important role in our nation's history and inspires our young people's imagination, creativity, and patriotism. Each submission beautifully reflected America's history through the eyes of our youngest citizens and artists.'
NEA Chairman Mary Anne Carter added: 'As we approach this historic milestone, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the voices and visions of young artists. These students remind us of the vital role creativity plays in helping us understand our history, our communities, and our shared future.'
Recognition and Upcoming Events
The three winners will be honoured at a special ceremony during the Great American State Fair, scheduled to run from 25 June through 10 July. The fair is one of several events planned to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, drawing together schools, community groups, artists, and cultural institutions to highlight the country's democratic traditions and civic life.
About the NEA's Role in America 250
The National Endowment for the Arts, an independent federal agency established by Congress in 1965, has been coordinating with federal and community partners on multiple projects tied to the America 250 commemorations. The bookmark challenge is among its most visible youth-facing initiatives, designed to bring the anniversary into classrooms and encourage civic reflection among the next generation of Americans.
Point of View
And its prominent billing in a White House-adjacent event signals at least a temporary détente. Whether the goodwill translates into sustained arts funding is a different question.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the winners of the America 250 Bookmark Design Challenge?
The three winners are Iris Zhang, a first-grader from Fremont, California (K–2 category); Margaret McCaul, a third-grader from Jacksonville, Florida (grades 3–5 category); and Eden Pethel, an eighth-grader from Pendergrass, Georgia (grades 6–8 category). They were announced by Second Lady Usha Vance on 30 May.
What was the Bookmark Design Challenge: Celebrating America's 250th?
It was a nationwide hand-drawn bookmark competition open to US students in grades K–8, organised by the office of the Second Lady in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Students were asked to illustrate themes such as American history, democratic traditions, community life, and hopes for the country's future.
Where and when will the winners be recognised?
The three winning students will be honoured at a special event during the Great American State Fair, which runs from 25 June through 10 July. The fair is one of several events planned as part of the broader America 250 semiquincentennial celebrations.
What role did the National Endowment for the Arts play?
The NEA, an independent federal agency founded by Congress in 1965, co-organised the challenge and has been coordinating multiple projects tied to the America 250 commemorations. NEA Chairman Mary Anne Carter congratulated the winners and highlighted the role of creativity in civic life.
What is America 250 and why is it significant?
America 250 refers to the United States' semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. A series of federal and community events, including the bookmark challenge and the Great American State Fair, are planned to mark the milestone by engaging schools, artists, and cultural institutions across the country.
