Young Family Historians Essay Contest 2026 Hero
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Young Family Historians Essay Contest 2026 Hero
Young Family Historians Essay Contest 2026
Congratulations to our 2026 Winners
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Young Family Historians Essay Contest. Participants were asked to share the story of an ancestor who was “revolutionary” and explain how their actions were new or impactful for their time. Each essay was judged on their research process, supporting evidence, originality, and quality of writing.
Grades 4-6
Winner: Julia Heinzkill, Grade 4, Ashley Academy, Johnson City, TN
Semifinalist: Ella Siegel, Grade 6, Spofford Pond School, Boxford, MA
Grades 7-8
Winner: Brady Carr, Grade 8, Fullerton Public Schools, Fullerton, NE
Semifinalist: Student from Pennsylvania
Grades 9-12
Winner: Olivia Li, Grade 9, Great Neck South High School, Great Neck, NY
Semifinalist: Student from Tennessee
Julia Heinzkill
Ashley Academy, Johnson City, TN
Winner, Grade 4
"[My great-great grandfather’s] story and the history I’ve learned more about has made an impact on me, making me want to help people through tough times. I will always remember his kindness and what his generosity towards African-Americans did to make a difference."
Ella Siegel
Spofford Pond School, Boxford, MA
Semifinalist, Grade 6
"I discovered that even when [Louis Grossman] had so little, he never gave up and he always fought for success to support his loved ones. This has taught me that with a lot of hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything you want."
Brady Carr
Fullerton Public Schools, Fullerton, NE
Winner, Grade 8
"The prompt for this essay was to write about an ancestor who was “revolutionary.” To be revolutionary means to be unique or to be someone different then everyone else. I learned a lot of things about Anthony Gunzelman while researching his life. I learned from Anthony Gunzelman's life that it is okay to make big changes and start over."
Olivia Li
Great Neck South High School, Great Neck, NY
Winner, Grade 9
"My grandmother's revolution was quiet but powerful. She defied expectations, crossed continents, and built a life that once seemed impossible. Liu Yaozen once came to America with fifty dollars and a dream. Today, that dream lives on through me."
