Veterans Day Essay Contest
2026 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest
The Virginia War Memorial (VWM) will call on students for entries to the 2026 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest in August 2026. The submission form will be live on Monday, August 3.
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 all high school entries (grades 9-12).
Essay Contest Prompt: Write about a Virginian who Served in the United States Military who Inspires You
The essay topic for the 2026 contest is “A Virginian who served in the United States military who inspires you.” Students may consider a member of their family, of their community, or a famous man or woman from Virginia who served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces from WWII to the present as their subject. Submissions should be 500-750 words in length, incorporate at least one primary source, and include an APA or MLA style bibliography.
The Virginia War Memorial Foundation will award each of the two students who write the winning essay a prize of $500.00. The student winners will also be invited to come to Richmond and participate in the Commonwealth’s 70th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
The deadline for entries to be submitted electronically is Monday, October 12, 2026 before midnight.
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SUBJECTS:
– Virginia veterans in your family, community members, or others whose stories resonate with you.
– Consider what lessons may be learned by their example.
– Focus on their time in service, though you may also address their time as a civilian or veteran.
RESOURCES:
– Speak with the veteran, or people who knew them.
– Utilize primary resources, newspaper records, personal stories, military records, letters, books, and the internet.
– Virginia War Memorial Archives (Contact Archivist Sylvia Marshall to view archival material and oral histories that may help you to create an essay: Sylvia.Marshall@dvs.virginia.gov)
FINALISTS:
– Entries will be judged on clarity, grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and adherence to the contest theme and guidelines.
– Sources must be properly cited in a bibliography (APA or MLA style).
QUESTIONS?
– Contact VWM’s Education Outreach & Programs Manager: elizabeth.oglesby@dvs.virginia.gov
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ESSAY CONTEST RULES AND GUIDELINES
1. This contest is open to all Virginia Middle and High School public, private, or homeschooled students. A winning entry will be chosen from each age group (grades 6-8 and 9-12).
2. Submissions must be between 500-750 words and use at least one primary source. Students must properly cite their sources in a bibliography (APA or MLA style) and include the bibliography with their submission.
3. Entries will be judged on clarity of thought, adherence to the contest theme and guidelines, and proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
4. Entries are due Monday, October 12, by 11:59 p.m. Entries received after this time will not be considered.
5. First place winners (in the grades 6-8 and 9-12 categories) will receive a prize from the Virginia War Memorial Foundation. Winners will also be invited to attend the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
6. By submitting an entry, the student agrees that the work is original and unassisted. Students may not use AI to produce their essay. The Virginia War Memorial Foundation holds the right to publish any submissions to this contest on its website and in other print materials (with credit to the author).
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
