Young Family Historians Essay Contest 2025

The 2025 American Ancestors Young Family Historians Essay Contest is open for students enrolled in grades 4–12 in public, private, parochial, and home schools across the nation and US territories. This year's contest invites students to share a story from their personal family history about an ancestor who faced a challenge, and how they overcame it.

We encourage teachers to use this essay contest as a class project. Our Family History Curriculum has everything you need to help students explore their roots, including inquiry-based lessons, teaching strategies, and editable student worksheets.

Submission Deadline: April 1, 2025

Contest Rules

Essay Question

Describe a challenge your ancestors faced. How did they overcome it?

All entries must be submitted through the online portal by April 1, 2025. Winners will be announced in June 2025.

Eligible Participants: All public, private, parochial, and home school students enrolled in grades 4-12 in any U.S. state or territory.

Only one entry per student is allowed.

All entries must be the original work of an individual student. Entries must not have been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Artificial intelligence tools cannot be used.

Entries which were written as an assigned school project are eligible for submission, but must fulfill all contest requirements.

Prizes

Grades 4-6

Winner: $500
Semifinalist: $250

Grades 7-8

Winner: $500
Semifinalist: $250

Grades 9-12

Winner: $500
Semifinalist: $250

Each winner and semifinalist will also receive a one-year student membership to American Ancestors.

Submission Guidelines

Word Count (approximate)

Grades 4-6: 500 words

Grades 7-8: 750 words

Grades 9-12: 1,000 words

Formatting

Number all pages

Double-spaced

12 pt Times New Roman

1-inch margins left and right, top and bottom

Submission file must be a PDF

Submit Your Essay Here

Criteria for Judging

Students will not be judged on the specific details of their family history. Essays will be judged based on the following criteria.

Essay Content (60%)

Research Process

Describe your research process, including who you spoke to, where you searched, what sources you used, and what you discovered.

Supporting Evidence

Use evidence from your research to support your claims and conclusions.

Originality

Write an original and unique essay with your own ideas and interpretations.

Personal Impact

Make meaningful connections between the past and your own life. Share what you have learned and how it has impacted you.