Wasilla High teacher wins prestigious 2026 James Madison Fellowship

Sarah Cardoza, a Wasilla High School educator dedicated to shaping the next generation of informed citizens, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 James Madison Fellowship. This highly competitive fellowship, which is awarded to only one educator from each state annually, is widely considered the most prestigious award in constitutional history and government for secondary teachers.

As the Alaska recipient for 2026, Cardoza was selected for her commitment to teaching American history and the U.S. Constitution at the secondary school level (grades 7–12). The fellowship provides up to $24,000 to fund graduate studies, allowing Cardoza to further her education to better serve her students.

The prestigious fellowship, awarded by an independent academic committee to educators across the country, aims to strengthen civic education in secondary schools. This award recognizes Cardoza’s dedication to teaching the nation's Constitutional heritage and scholastic achievements.

Fellows were chosen for their scholarly achievements and their demonstrated interest in pursuing a course of graduate study leading to a master’s degree emphasizing the U.S. Constitution. Fellowships were awarded only in states and territories where resident applicants met the James Madison Fellowship’s criteria.

The James Madison Fellowship is designed to encourage outstanding secondary school teachers to become experts in the history, theory, and implementation of the U.S. Constitution, awarding fellowships to outstanding students dedicated to teaching about the development and history of the United States Constitution, thus to expose the nation’s secondary school students to accurate knowledge of the nation’s Constitutional heritage.

Cardoza was one of 45 outstanding educators for its 2026 class in the 34th annual competition. Chosen from a national pool of applicants, these Fellows are eligible to receive up to $24,000 to pursue master's degrees focused on the U.S. Constitution, strengthening their ability to teach American history and civics in secondary schools.

Named in honor of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, who is acknowledged as “the Father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” a James Madison Fellowship funds up to $24,000 of each Fellow’s course of study towards a master’s degree. A Fellow’s graduate program must include a concentration of courses on the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution. Recipients are required to teach American history, government, or civics full-time in a secondary school for at least one year for each year of Fellowship support.

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation is an independent agency of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and was created by law in 1986. James Madison Fellowships are funded by income generated through a trust fund in the Treasury of the United States and additional private gifts, grants, and endowments. Additional information may be found at www.jamesmadison.gov.