Veterans Day Essay Contest
2026 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest
The Virginia War Memorial (VWM) will call on students for entries to their 2026 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest in August of 2026.
The annual competition is open to all Virginia middle and high school age public, private, and homeschooled students. One winner will be selected from among all middle school entries (grades 6-8) and one from high school entries (grades 9-12).
The essay topic for the 2026 contest will be announced next year.
(The 2025 contest is now closed.)
CONGRATULATIONS TO the WINNERS OF THE 2025 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest
The Winners of the 2025 Essay Contest are:
Middle School Winner: Eliana Berkoff, an 8th grade student at J. Michael Lunsford Middle School in Loudoun County.
High School Winner: Sara George, a 12th grade student at Gretna High School in Pittsylvania County.
Contest winners and their parents attended the ceremony and were recognized during the program by Virginia War Memorial Director Dr. Clay Mountcastle and congratulated by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin who was the keynote speaker. Each of the two winner students also received a $500 check donated by the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) – Department of Virginia.
Due to the high volume and quality of essay submissions, the Virginia War Memorial staff members who judged the competition also awarded Honorable Mention recognition to the following middle and high school students:
Middle School Honorable Mentions:
• Lucia Leff, Grade 7, Dogwood Middle School, Richmond City
• Alaina Murphy, Grade 8, Manchester Middle School, Chesterfield County
• James Shirley, Grade 6, Dogwood Middle School, Richmond City
• Brook Webster, Grade 8, New Kent Middle School, New Kent County
High School Honorable Mentions:
• Jakub Bowen, Grade 11, Middlesex High School – Middlesex County
• Ashley Bowers, Grade 11, Battlefield High School, Prince William County
• Reese Minor, Grade 12, Monacan High School, Chesterfield County
• Taylor Trezza, Grade 11, James River High School, Chesterfield County
