WoodmenLife Launched National Student Video Contest

K-12 schools can secure cash awards through a student-driven video competition celebrating American history.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Philanthropy

A vintage silver film reel canister sits on a wooden desk bathed in bright natural window light. — WoodmenLife has launched its America Is 250 student video competition, offering cash awards to K-12 schools for history-themed submissions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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WoodmenLife has opened its annual America Is 250 contest, inviting students in grades K-12 to submit short videos reflecting on the country's upcoming 250th anniversary. Winning entries in the K-8 and 9-12 divisions will earn cash prizes for their respective schools.

Why it matters

The competition serves as a corporate social responsibility initiative for Omaha-based insurer WoodmenLife, providing a mechanism to increase brand visibility among families and educators. By linking awards to school funding, the sponsor creates a direct incentive for community engagement.

The contest awards a top prize of $2,500, a second-place award of $1,500, and $1,000 for third place across two school divisions. Founded in 1890, WoodmenLife limits eligible entries to videos between 30 and 60 seconds in length.

The players

WoodmenLife

An Omaha-based insurance provider founded in 1890 that operates as a member-owned fraternal benefit society.

The details

Students must create content celebrating American independence, which is subsequently submitted for public evaluation via the WoodmenLife Facebook page. Winners are selected through this public voting process across two distinct brackets: K-8 and 9-12. Each grand prize recipient also earns a commemorative award intended for display within the student's school, integrating physical branding into the institutional donation process.

• Submissions for the video contest close on October 7, 2026.
• Public voting on the WoodmenLife Facebook page begins October 14, 2026.
• The voting window concludes on October 21, 2026.
• Winners will be officially announced on October 27, 2026.

Market Landscape

This initiative follows the precedent set by organizations aligning marketing programs with the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence. It marks a departure from traditional corporate giving by utilizing social media-based public voting to drive brand engagement.

Business operators can observe how WoodmenLife leverages social platforms to build brand recognition through school-based partnerships. This model demonstrates a low-cost, high-engagement strategy for corporate social responsibility that prioritizes community visibility over direct advertising spend.

The takeaway

Large-scale anniversary branding often provides opportunities for businesses to connect with local schools through sponsored contests. Operators should monitor how such public-facing campaigns influence local perception and consider if similar community-linked initiatives align with their own marketing goals.