Adams Presidential Center

On Thursday, June 11th The Adams Presidential Center partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host the National Civics Bee Massachusetts State Finals at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, MA, where participating 6th, 7th and 8th graders flexed their civics knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes.

The nonpartisan civics competition aims to encourage young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Middle schoolers from across the state were chosen as finalists through essay submissions and top placement in the regional competition.

We are pleased to share the 2026 National Civics Bee Massachusetts State Finals winners:
1st Place, Shelby Schenck, 8th Grade
2nd Place, Avish Sharma, 8th Grade
3rd Place, Aariana Gawande , 6th Grade

Through the Bee, we are promoting greater civic knowledge throughout Massachusetts and celebrating our civic pride. MA State Finalist Winner, Shelby Schenck, will compete in the National Civics Bee National Championship in Washington, DC in Fall 2026.

Winners are pictured here with Master of Ceremonies, APC President Kurt and Judges, Erin Perkins, Assistant Superintendent of Quincy Public Schools & APC Board Member, Philip Chong, President & CEO of Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. and Sadie Troy, Director of Education, Adams Presidential Center.

The Adams Presidential Center Emerging Leaders Seminar inaugrual class gathered in Quincy, MA to explore the enduring principles of leadership and citizenship through the extraordinary legacy of John Adams and his family in our Emerging Leaders program.

In addition to learning through John Adams' civic leadership case studies and conversations with contemporary leaders on the APC Board, participants were able to step into history through exclusive access to Adams family homes, historical sites and landmarks in City of Quincy and Boston. Highlights included Quincy Historical Society & Museum, Adams Farm at Penn's Hill (John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces), Old House at Peace field at Adams National Historical Park, Adams Crypt at United First Parish Church, Old State House, and Old South Meeting House.

This past week, The Adams Presidential Center welcomed the inaugural class of 25 young leaders to explore the enduring principles of leadership and citizenship through the extraordinary legacy of John Adams and his family in our Emerging Leaders program.

Over four immersive days, participants explored the origins of American democracy and developed their own understanding of active, responsible citizenship. Through historic site visits, case studies of John Adams’s civic leadership in action, and conversations with members of the APC Board, the inaugural Emerging Leaders cohort discovered that the Adams family’s legacy of service and leadership remains deeply relevant, offering inspiration and guidance for their own leadership journeys today. "This program was truly life-changing", expressed 2026 Emerging Leader Graduate.

The Adams Presidential Center Emerging Leaders Welcome Reception, 22 young people from across the nation joined Board Chairman, General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., USMC (ret), Board Members Rob Waldron and Joe Clark, and APC President Kurt Graham for the kick off at Port 305 in Quincy, MA.

"In this recent, thought-provoking article from The Conversation, historians explore the differing visions of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson—two revolutionary leaders whose debates about government, liberty, and the future of the United States continued even into their final years.

Though their political disagreements shaped the early republic, their enduring correspondence also reminds us of something equally important: that civic dialogue, intellectual exchange, and debate have always been central to the American experiment.

As we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary, their story offers a timely reminder that democracy has long depended on the ability to disagree, reflect, and continue the conversation.

📖 Read the full article: ""John Adams and Thomas Jefferson disagreed about the American Revolution’s meaning—even as they lay dying""

https://theconversation.com/john-adams-and-thomas-jefferson-disagreed-about-the-american-revolutions-meaning-even-as-they-lay-dying-278347

"

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson disagreed about the American Revolution’s meaning even as they lay dying The founding generation in America was not of one mind. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson differed on crucial ideas, but exemplify the capacity for people to disagree and yet work for a common cause.

🎓🇺🇸 Celebrating Service, Honoring Impact 🇺🇸🎓

This week, as we recognize Memorial Day and honor those who gave their lives in service to our nation, we are also proud to celebrate a new generation committed to serving their communities.

In partnership with Quincy Public Schools, the Adams Presidential Center recently awarded the Adams Civic Impact Award to outstanding graduating seniors. This award honors the legacy of John Adams, Abigail Adams, Louisa Catherine Adams and John Quincy Adams by recognizing students who demonstrate a deep commitment to civic responsibility through meaningful community service—going beyond expectations and reflecting thoughtfully on the impact of their contributions.

At its core, this award celebrates the idea that service takes many forms. While Memorial Day reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice made in defense of our nation, it also calls us to reflect on how each of us can contribute to the common good.

These students embody that spirit—showing that a dedication to community, civic engagement, and service remains as vital today as it was in the time of the Adams family.

👏 Congratulations to this year’s recipients—and thank you for leading by example.

🇺🇸 This Memorial Day, we honor those who gave their lives in service to our nation. 🇺🇸

From the earliest days of the revolution, leaders like John Adams understood that the freedoms we cherish come at a profound cost. In his writings, Adams reflected on the sacrifices required to secure and sustain liberty—sacrifices made not only by statesmen, but by the many who served and fought for a cause greater than themselves.

On this day of remembrance, we pause to honor the courage, service, and ultimate sacrifice of those who have defended our nation across generations.

Their legacy endures in the freedoms we uphold and the responsibilities we carry forward.

Revolutionary Spaces and the Adams Presidential Center at the Old State House ready to kick off an exciting conversation centering on two influential voices of the Revolutionary era: Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren with Liz Covart, host of the podcast Ben Franklin’s World, Massachusetts Historical Society historian Sara Georgini and Nancy Rubin Stuart, author of The Muse of the Revolution.

Today, six extraordinary students (3 Quincy High School Seniors, 3 North Quincy High School Seniors) were recognized for their exceptional commitment to civic responsibility through meaningful community service. The inaugural Adams Civic Impact Awards in partnership with Quincy Public Schools were presented to Emily Chen, Elmeria Cheung, Angelina Lin, Lily Chen, Shayed Zaman, and Bushra Shah. Congratulations to all for making a difference in their community! “To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.” John Adams 🇺🇸❤️