Governor Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu Join Distinguished Panel of Judges for the 2026 We Declare! Challenge

Governor Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu Join Distinguished Panel of Judges for the 2026 We Declare! Challenge

The statewide competition invites Massachusetts 8th graders to creatively engage with the Declaration of Independence for the chance to earn scholarships and additional prizes

BOSTON, MA (May 6, 2026) – Governor Maura Healey, First Lady Joanna Lydgate, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will serve as honorary judges for the We Declare! Challenge, joining other leaders from government, education, the arts, public service, private sector and science, all united in their commitment to strengthening civic engagement among young people. The statewide video competition invites Massachusetts 8th grade students to bring the Declaration of Independence to life in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“The First Lady and I are so excited to be a part of this initiative and to hear the thoughtful, passionate voices of so many students,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Opportunities like this highlight the creativity and insight young people bring to important conversations about our democracy. I look forward to seeing how each participant interprets these ideals and uses their voice to inspire others and help shape the future.”

"I'm thrilled that as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, Boston's eighth graders will take part in the We Declare! Challenge,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “It is especially fitting that the home of the nation's first public school system – and the birthplace of the American Revolution – continues to lead in helping the next generation engage with the Declaration of Independence in new and innovative ways. I'm grateful to the organizers and the panel of judges for sharing their time and expertise to support this important effort.”

The We Declare! Challenge, sponsored by Fidelity Investments® with support from MA250, invites every 8th grade classroom in the Commonwealth to submit short, creative, school managed videos of students reading from the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. The winning class will receive $2,500 scholarships for each 8th grade student in the submitting class, along with additional school and teacher prizes.

The 2026 panel of judges includes:

• Governor Maura Healey, Honorary Judge

• First Lady Joanna Lydgate, Honorary Judge

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Honorary Judge

• Katherine Craven, Executive Vice President, Administration and Finance, Babson College

• General Joseph Dunford, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

• Pamela Everhart, Senior Vice President and Head of Regional Public Affairs and Community Relations, Fidelity Investments

• Deborah Glasser, Head of Specialty Care, North America, and U.S. Country Lead, Sanofi S.A.

• Reverend Dr. Greg Groover, President, Black Ministerial Alliance TenPoint

• Dr. Jane Kamensky, President and CEO of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

• Reshma Kewalramanni, M.D., President and CEO, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

• Lisa Krassner, President, Massachusetts Historical Society

• Keith Lockhart, Conductor, Boston Pops

• Pedro Martinez, Commissioner, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• Rhonda Pacheco, President, U.S. Business Unit and U.S. Country Head, Takeda

• Lee Pelton, President and CEO, The Boston Foundation

• Alan Ricks, Founding Principal and Co Executive Director, MASS Design Group

• Chad Smith, President, Boston Symphony Orchestra

• Rob Waldron, We Declare! Challenge Founder

“The Declaration of Independence remains one of the most powerful statements of human liberty ever written,” said General Joseph Dunsford, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Encouraging young people to understand and reflect on its meaning is essential to the strength of our democracy. I’m honored to support a challenge that invites students to engage so thoughtfully with our founding ideals.”

“Education has always been my greatest passion, and nothing inspires me more than seeing students bring their voices to a project like this,” said Rob Waldron, Founder of the We Declare! Challenge. “When young people engage with the Declaration of Independence, they’re not just learning history, they’re connecting with ideas that continue to shape our country. I’m grateful to our judges for helping highlight the importance of civic education as we celebrate America’s 250th.”

The winning class will receive $2,500 scholarships for every 8th grade student in the submitting class, along with $2,500 to the school, $1,000 to the submitting teacher, a school spirit event, and a planned broadcast of their video at the Boston Pops July 4th celebration. Two runners up will also receive school, teacher, and classroom awards, and every participating class earns a $100 gift card.

All 8th grade classrooms across the state are encouraged to enter the We Declare! contest. Submissions are due by June 3, 2026.