History & Civics Programs & Competitions for High School Students

History and civics extracurriculars include National History Day, mock trial and government programs, and archival research opportunities.

They are the natural proving ground for future law, policy, and humanities applicants.

70 verified programs match this page; 25 of the featured listings are completely free; 8 can be done online.

Featured programs

Browse 30+ curated programs for high school students:

• White House Internship Program — The White House: Gain hands-on leadership experience with this prestigious White House internship. Perfect for building government skills and boosting college applicat
• United States Senate Youth Program — Hearst Foundations: Explore leadership and civic skills in this prestigious high school program. Includes a week in Washington, D.C. and a $10,000 scholarship to boost co
• American Legion Boys State — The American Legion: Premier week-long government simulation program where high school juniors create a mock state government. Free, highly selective, and one of the most
• John Locke Institute Essay Competition — John Locke Institute: International essay competition in philosophy, politics, economics, history, and psychology for high school students, offering Oxford prizes and recog
• National Society DAR Scholarship Program — National Society Daughters of the American Revolution: DAR awards over $1 million in scholarships annually to students pursuing education in history, government, nursing, and many other fields. One of the
• CyberCorps Scholarship for Service — NSF / CISA: Full scholarship + stipend for cybersecurity studies in exchange for government service. Early pathway programs for high schoolers.
• We the People National Competition Champion — Center for Civic Education: Congressional hearings simulation. Test constitutional knowledge. National finals in DC.
• Close Up Washington DC Program — Close Up Foundation: Week-long government studies program in Washington DC.
• AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program (HSAP) — U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program: Paid summer research apprenticeships with Army-sponsored labs and faculty.
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute R2L NextGen — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute: Free week-long program in Washington DC for Hispanic high school students interested in public service and policy. Includes meetings with Congress mem
• U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP) — The Hearst Foundations: Fully funded, weeklong Washington Week for two students per state plus a $10,000 scholarship.
• Lead America Congressional Student Leadership Conference — Lead America: Student leadership conference in Washington DC exploring government, law, and public policy with interactive simulations.
• FEMA Youth Preparedness Council — FEMA: National council advising FEMA on youth preparedness.
• Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Student Leadership Program — Reagan Foundation: Leadership program at Reagan Presidential Library.
• Lincoln Forum Scholarship Essay Contest — The Lincoln Forum: Essay contest on Abraham Lincoln and Civil War era. Cash prizes and attendance at annual symposium. Shows historical research and writing excellence.
• American Legion Boys/Girls State — American Legion: Week-long government simulation. Top participants selected for Boys/Girls Nation.
• JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest — JFK Library: Essay contest on political courage. $10k first prize. Winners invited to Boston.
• National History Day Kenneth E. Behring National Contest Winner — National History Day: National winners in documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website categories. Over 500,000 students compete annually. Top prizes include colleg
• U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in the Arts — U.S. Department of Education: Highest honor bestowed upon American arts students by the U.S. President. 20 students selected annually via YoungArts for national recognition ceremon
• American University Washington Semester for High School — American University: DC-based government and policy summer program at American University. Internships and coursework in the nation's capital.
• The Concord Review Published Author — The Concord Review: The only quarterly journal in the world to publish academic history papers by high school students. Publication is extremely prestigious and valued by
• We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution — Center for Civic Education: A nationwide high school competition on the U.S. Constitution, civil liberties, and democratic principles through simulated congressional hearings.
• StudentCam Documentary Competition — C-SPAN: StudentCam is C-SPAN’s annual national video documentary competition for U.S. middle and high school students.
• Smithsonian Digital Volunteers — Smithsonian Institution: Transcribe historical documents and help digitize museum collections.
• Smithsonian Teen Volunteer — Smithsonian Institution: Assist with museum programs, events, and visitor services at Smithsonian museums.
• iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship — iCivics & CIRCLE (Tufts): Empower your leadership skills in this free, virtual civics fellowship for high school students. Gain hands-on experience and boost your college appli
• Penn Model Congress (PennMC) — University of Pennsylvania International Affairs Association: Explore Penn Model Congress, a free in-person leadership program for high schoolers to debate policy, build negotiation skills, and boost college appl
• Yale Model Congress (YMC) — Yale Model Congress: Join a selective government competition in Washington, DC, fostering debate, leadership, and policy-making skills. Perfect for college applications an
• North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) — Georgetown International Relations Association: Develop diplomacy, debate, and leadership skills at NAIMUN, a premier high school Model UN competition with hands-on international relations experienc
• Mikva Challenge Summer Fellows — Mikva Challenge: Gain hands-on experience in government and civic leadership with this paid summer internship for grades 10-12. Build skills and strengthen your colleg

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