Young Family Historians Essay Contest 2024 hero
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Young Family Historians Essay Contest 2024
Congratulations to our 2024 Winners
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Young Family Historians Essay Contest. Participants were asked to share a story from their personal family history and how lessons from that story can be applied to their life today. Each essay was judged on their research process, supporting evidence, originality, and quality of writing.
Grades 4-6
Winner: Nevaan Khanna, Grade 5, Princeton Junction, NJ
Semifinalist: Amelia Baker, Grade 6, Truro, MA
Grades 7-8
Winner: Student from Arizona
Semifinalist: Alisa Udachina, Grade 8, Phoenix, AZ
Grades 9-12
Winner: Charles Hiatt, Grade 12, Manhattan Beach, CA
Semifinalist: Finian Casey, Grade 12, Ballston Spa, NY
Nevaan Khanna
Village Elementary School, Princeton Junction, NJ
Winner, Grade 5
“[My] great-great-grandfather, Sardar Mohan Singh Ramgarhia, … was a naturally gifted engineer. ... This got me contemplating the path I wish to pave in my life. I now have a burning desire to pursue a career that enables me to be more generous towards others as I continue to grow.”
Amelia Baker
Provincetown Schools, Truro, MA
Semifinalist, Grade 6
"[We] don’t know what's going to happen in a year from now, a week from now, or even a day from now. So take every opportunity there is in life to tell someone you love them because you don’t know if it will be the last time saying those three words to that person."
Alisa Udachina
Basis Ahwatukee Charter School, Phoenix, AZ
Semifinalist, Grade 8
"By sharing my great-grandmother's story, I hope to inspire future generations to draw strength from her extraordinary journey. May her resilience, courage and unwavering love continue to ignite the flame of determination in all those who encounter her story."
Charles Hiatt
Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach, CA
Winner, Grade 12
Joseph Marshall McPhie’s legacy represents the courage and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity and an unwavering dedication to the ideals of liberty and independence. He serves as a powerful reminder to me that the strength of a nation lies not merely in its military prowess but in the determination of its people.
Finian Casey
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, Ballston Spa, NY
Semifinalist, Grade 12
"The story of my great-granduncle John “Jack” J. Fitzgerald (1899–1918) is a testament to sacrifice and bravery. … [His] sacrifice has encouraged me to fully appreciate the freedoms I enjoy and how essential it is to appreciate each moment. His courage on the battlefield serves as a powerful reminder of the selflessness exhibited by those who have and continue to serve our country."
