Patriot Games: Scholars in the Spotlight | Sydney News

One hundred twenty high schoolers from across the U.S. and its territories are battling it out in the high-stakes Patriot Games, a flashy spectacle launched by President Trump to mark the nation’s 250th birthday—with top male and female winners walking away with $125,000 scholarships. But how did they get here? Through viral video apps and essays, not traditional tryouts—some, like North Carolina’s Chris Brennan, even applied on a whim or as a joke. Representation rules are loose too: Puerto Rico’s Anderson Reid doesn’t need to live there, just have ties. The games mix military-style obstacles with athletic trials, with some athletes training hard and others, like South Carolina’s Owen Carter, barely preparing—and still making the cut. As finals loom, remember: that scholarship might not cover the full cost of an out-of-state public school, leaving students to weigh dreams against dollars. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a388a605c6cad008