Freedom 250 and National Endowment for the Humanities Announces Regional and National Winners of National American Heroes Student Art Contest

On Wednesday, Freedom 250 and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) honored the Regional, People's Choice, and National Winners of the American Heroes Student Art Contest during a special awards ceremony in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Whitten Patio Atrium.

The nationwide competition invited students to depict one of the 250 American heroes who will be featured in the National Garden of American Heroes through original artwork and artist statements. After reviewing more than 1,000 submissions from students across the country, judges recognized outstanding artists at the state, regional, and national levels, celebrating creativity, historical reflection, and civic pride as America prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary.

The awards ceremony opened with an a cappella performance of the National Anthem by Broadway performer, singer, and songwriter Carrie Manolakos, followed by welcome remarks from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins congratulating the contest winners. 

Second Lady Usha Vance, who served as a distinguished judge for the national competition, delivered the keynote address and spoke about the importance of American heroism, fostering creativity, and inspiring young people to participate in shaping the nation's future. 

The event concluded with remarks from Acting NEH Chairman Dr. Bill English on the importance of historical reflection, and from award-winning artist Julio Reyes, who encouraged students to continue honing their artistic talents and become the next generation of America's cultural leaders.

During the ceremony, Freedom 250 and the National Endowment for the Humanities recognized the outstanding achievements of student artists from across the country, honoring state and territory winners before presenting Regional Winner, People's Choice, National Second Place, and National First Place awards across the elementary, middle school, and high school divisions.

An exhibition featuring more than 130 state and territory winning artworks remains on display in the American Canvas Pavilion at the Great American State Fair through July 10, allowing visitors from across the country to experience the remarkable talent and historical storytelling showcased by America's young artists.

National First Place Winners

*Note: The National 1st and 2nd Place winners were determined by four Distinguished Judges – Second Lady Usha Vance, CEO of Freedom 250 Keith Krach, NEH Acting Chairman William English, and Artist and Philanthropist Trish Duggan*

Elementary
Southwest - Jiyun Kim, “Her World Beyond Sight and Sound,” honoring Helen Keller

Middle School
Midwest - Violet Crowder, “A First Glimpse,” honoring John Glenn

High School
Northeast - Samantha Wiggin, “America Embodied: A Portrait of Theodore Roosevelt,” honoring Theodore Roosevelt

National Second Place Winners

Elementary
Northeast - Raeanna Smith, “The Holy Man,” honoring Chief Sitting Bull

Middle School

Northeast - Sarang Lee, “The Sound That Became America,” honoring Louis Armstrong

High School
Midwest - Amy Osborne, “Mark Twain,” honoring Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

Regional Winners of the American Heroes Student Art Contest

Elementary School Category
Northeast - Raeanna Smith, “The Holy Man,” honoring Chief Sitting Bull
Southeast - Lilah Olivia Covher, “Red, Flight, and Flew,” honoring John James Audubon
Midwest - Daniel Fronick, “Hit it Hard!”, honoring Babe Ruth
West - Roy Kim, “The Spark of Ideas,” honoring Benjamin Franklin
Southwest - Jiyun Kim, “Her World Beyond Sight and Sound,” honoring Helen Keller

Middle School Category
Northeast - Sarang Lee, “The Sound That Became America,” honoring Louis Armstrong
Southeast - Minchan Kang, “Battle of Mobile Bay: David Farragut,” honoring David Faragut
Midwest - Violet Crowder, “A First Glimpse,” honoring John Glenn
West - Aadya Janesh, “Her Sky, Her Story,” honoring Amelia Earhart
Southwest - Ysobella G Depala, “The Future of History,” honoring George Washington
Northeast - Samantha Wiggin, “America Embodied: A Portrait of Theodore Roosevelt,” honoring Theodore Roosevelt

High School Category
Northeast – Samantha Wiggin, “America Embodied: A Portrait of Theodore Roosevelt,” honoring Theodore Roosevelt
Southeast - Britian Major, “Unite Them,” honoring Abraham Lincoln
Midwest - Amy Osborne, “Mark Twain,” honoring Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
West - Asher Hudson, “Good Night, Dear Heart,” honoring Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
Southwest - Rebecca Smith, “General Dwight D. Eisenhower,” honoring Dwight D. Eisenhower

People’s Choice Awards

*Note: The People’s Choice Awards resulted from visitors at the Great American State Fair who used a QR Code to vote for their favorites*

Elementary
Florida - Sophia Vanlandingham, “The Man Who Lit America,” honoring Nikola Tesla

Middle School
Florida - Lexi Weaver, “Midnight Ride,” honoring Paul Revere

High School
Georgia - Mia Cossick, “One More,” honoring Desmond Doss

State and Territory Winners of the American Heroes Student Art Contest

*Note: The State, Territory, and Regional Winners were determined by nine studio art, education, and history-expert Judges – Julie Carmean, Liz Diament, Teresa West Carter, Mitch Hobbs, Lauren Marshall Weems, Candice Bohanon, Julio Reyes, Julio Suarez, and Abbie Guzman.*

Elementary School Category
Alabama — Emma Grace Hjelm, "Oakville's Hero," honoring Jesse Owens
Alaska — Hulda Elisabeth Cox, "Freedom at Last," honoring Harriet Tubman
Arizona — Quinn Thyfault, "Louis Armstrong," honoring Louis Armstrong
Arkansas — Bailey Pacheco, "The Journey," honoring William Bradford
California — Roy Kim, "The Spark of Ideas," honoring Benjamin Franklin
Colorado — Deborah Reifschneider, "Desmond Doss at Hacksaw Ridge," honoring Desmond Doss
Connecticut — Mika Amzallag-Yeger, "Peaceful and Hopeful Heroine," honoring Jeanette Rankin
Florida — Sophia Vanlandingham, "The Man Who Lit America," honoring Nikola Tesla
Georgia — Vedika Patel, "First Footprints on the Moon," honoring Neil Armstrong
Idaho — Josie Starr, "Beyond the Stars," honoring Katherine Johnson
Illinois — Faustina Irene Lasnoski, "Birthday Celebration," honoring Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
Indiana — Cecilia Chrisman, "Amelia Earhart," honoring Amelia Earhart
Iowa — Shambhavi Singh, "Harriet Tubman – Leader of Freedom," honoring Harriet Tubman
Kansas — Isabelle Menard, "Johnny Appleseed," honoring John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed)
Kentucky — Jackson Wheeler, "Edwin Hubble," honoring Edwin Hubble
Louisiana — Lilah Olivia Covher, "Red, Flight, and Flew," honoring John James Audubon
Maine — Odin S. Labonte, "The American Man," honoring Ronald Reagan
Maryland — Ruthie Deininger, "Jazz at Camp," honoring Louis Armstrong
Massachusetts — Yunqi Cai, "Chasing the Light - Tesla," honoring Nikola Tesla
Michigan — Elise Cook, "The Ross Home on a Summer Day," honoring Betsy Ross
Mississippi — Annie McCoy, "Sojourner Truth," honoring Sojourner Truth
Missouri — Daniel Fronick, "Hit it Hard!," honoring Babe Ruth
Montana — Mya Schatzel, "Lincoln's Legacy," honoring Abraham Lincoln
Nebraska — Clara Fehringer, "Light through the Darkness," honoring Harriet Tubman
Nevada — Anabelle Pennington, "Sacagawea's View," honoring Sacagawea
New Hampshire — Tucker Knightly, "Underground Captains Meet," honoring Harriet Tubman
New Jersey — Sophia Heeyoung Lim, "A Seat of Courage," honoring Rosa Parks
New Mexico — Mila Enrico, "Peace and Slavery," honoring Abraham Lincoln
New York — Raeanna Smith, "The Holy Man," honoring Sitting Bull
North Carolina — Gracyn Dudding, "Ansel Adams' Impressions," honoring Ansel Adams
Ohio — Madalynn Gould, "William Clark," honoring William Clark
Oklahoma — Jana Sparks, "The Bird Collage," honoring John James Audubon
Pennsylvania — Mika Sameroff, "American Hero: Betsy Ross," honoring Betsy Ross
Rhode Island — Lucy Agresti, "The Sky is Not the Limit," honoring Amelia Earhart
South Carolina — Theodore Brown, "Doolittle's Daring Attack," honoring Jimmy Doolittle
South Dakota — Roselle Hollie Grabitske, "The Trumpet of Louis Armstrong," honoring Louis Armstrong
Tennessee — Brendan Hennessey, "Strike Out Racism: Jackie Robinson," honoring Jackie Robinson
Texas — Jiyun Kim, "Her World Beyond Sight and Sound," honoring Helen Keller
Utah — Elizabeth Black, "Boston Massacre Recreated," honoring Paul Revere
Vermont — Cora Mier, "Sacagawea's Glow," honoring Sacagawea
Virginia — Sheyda Webster, "Remember the Ladies," honoring John Adams
Washington — Arliss Clack, "Siege of Vicksburg," honoring Ulysses S. Grant
Washington, D.C. — Claire Henger, "Culture and Cuisine," honoring Julia Child
West Virginia — Ezra VanScoy, "250 Lincolns," honoring Abraham Lincoln
Wisconsin — Mila Kavelaris, "Johnny Cash – Man in Black," honoring Johnny Cash

Middle School Category
Alabama — Leighton Medlin, "Good Ol' Blue Eyes," honoring Frank Sinatra
Alaska — Konnor J. Kiddle, "Neil's View," honoring Neil Armstrong
Arizona — Aaratrika Mohanti, "The Light of Truth: A Tribute to Ida B. Wells-Barnett," honoring Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Arkansas — Lucas Lobo, "United Heroes," honoring Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt 
California — Aadya Janesh, "Her Sky, Her Story," honoring Amelia Earhart
Colorado — Seaton Wood, "Walt and Mickey Go for a Ride," honoring Walt Disney
Connecticut — Emma Marzullo, "Freedom Calling," honoring Laura Ingalls Wilder
Florida — Lexi Weaver, "Midnight Ride," honoring Paul Revere
Georgia — Ellen Templeton, "Freedom in his Sight," honoring Abraham Lincoln
Hawaii — Adrianna Tran, "Walt Disney," honoring Walt Disney
Idaho — Jimmy Chen, "Neil Armstrong: Small Step, Large Leap," honoring Neil Armstrong
Illinois — Ziyang Ma, "Honoring Audubon," honoring John James Audubon
Indiana — Mya Jones, "True American Hero," honoring George S. Patton
Iowa — Annalee E Kos, "May-Flower," honoring Emily Dickinson
Kansas — Austyn Hall, "Harriet Beecher Stowe," honoring Harriet Beecher Stowe
Kentucky — Amber Bernard, "Kobe Bryant Looking Toward," honoring Kobe Bryant
Louisiana — Bailey Allison, "Lady Lindy," honoring Amelia Earhart
Maine — Luke Lord, "Trust Your Intuition," honoring Albert Einstein
Maryland — Maria Mills, "Dr. Seuss," honoring Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
Massachusetts — Iris Zhuo-Li, "In the Reflection," honoring Phillis Wheatley
Michigan — Olivia Carol Heiler, "Sally Ride," honoring Sally Ride
Minnesota — Tate Kramer, "The Inventions of Benjamin Franklin," honoring Benjamin Franklin
Mississippi — Truenne Speck, "Service to My Country," honoring Clara Barton
Missouri — Liliana Esparza, "Midnight Pop," honoring Paul Revere
Montana — Emery Penner, "Nikola Tesla," honoring Nikola Tesla
Nebraska — Violet Crowder, "At First Glimpse," honoring John Glenn
Nevada — Sophia Skeehan, "Elizabeth's Death," honoring Elizabeth Ann Seton
New Jersey — Sarang Lee, "The Sound that Became America," honoring Louis Armstrong
New Mexico — Ysobella G Depala, "The Future of History," honoring George Washington
New York — Amber Wang, "Please Lord, Help Me Get One More," honoring Desmond Doss
North Carolina — Solomon Brulet, "Through Darkness Comes Freedom," honoring Abraham Lincoln
North Dakota — Eva Szklarski, "Math to the Moon," honoring Katherine Johnson
Ohio — Nandita Seshadri, "Amelia Earhart,” honoring Amelia Earhart"
Oklahoma — Gordon Bryan, "John Wayne," honoring John Wayne
Pennsylvania — Adrianna Jane Hardison, "Painting the Dream," honoring Norman Rockwell
South Carolina — Penny Lattimore, "Our Faithful Hero," honoring Desmond Doss
South Dakota — Jessa Van Zee, "Walt Disney," honoring Walt Disney
Tennessee — Minchan Kang, "Battle of Mobile Bay: David Farragut," honoring David Farragut
Texas — Amelia Rose Frizzell, "The Voice for New Beginnings," honoring Jeanette Rankin
Utah — Liam Gustavson, "He's Got the Wright Stuff," honoring Frank Lloyd Wright
Virginia — Laurie Ma, "Dr. Seuss," honoring Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
Washington — Catherine Li, "Albert Einstein," honoring Albert Einstein
West Virginia — Izabella King, "Davey Crockett," honoring Davey Crockett
Wisconsin — Hosanna Peterson, "Gabby Gabreski: Ace of the Skies," honoring Francis “Gabby” Gabreski
Wyoming — Faith R. Gomez, "A Brave Educator," honoring Elizabeth Ann Seton

High School Category
Alabama — Aspyn Speake, "Elvis Presley: The Patriotic King," honoring Elvis Presley
Arizona — Hannah Lofgren, "Mayo Family Legacy," honoring William Mayo
Arkansas — Madeline Phillips, "Ride, Sally Ride," honoring Sally Ride
California — Alyssa Liu, "Clara Barton," honoring Clara Barton
Colorado — Charlize K. Wardle, "Buffalo Bill – The Face of the Frontier," honoring William Fredrick “Buffalo Bill” Cody
Connecticut — Halana Ann Crowley, "Man in Black," honoring Johnny Cash
Delaware — Abigail M. Lyons, "Signs of Life," honoring Nellie Gray
Florida — Britian Major, "Unite Them," honoring Abraham Lincoln
Georgia — Mia Elizabeth Cossick, "One More," honoring Desmond Doss
Illinois — Lilia Gregg, "The Conductor," honoring Harriet Tubman
Indiana — Liberty McDowell, "This Union Shall Endure," honoring George Washington
Kentucky — Bryson Andrew Snawder, "Edgar Allen Poe," honoring Edgar Allen Poe
Louisiana — Hailey Hudson, "Behind the Hero," honoring Muhammad Ali
Maine — Margaret R. Lynch, "Explorers of the New Frontier," honoring Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
Maryland — Etian Huang, "Admiral Gordon Chung-Hoon," honoring Gordon Chung-Hoon
Massachusetts — Samantha Wiggin, "America Embodied: A Portrait of Theodore Roosevelt," honoring Theodore Roosevelt
Michigan — Madison Imus, "Jesse Owens: American Olympic Inspiration," honoring Jesse Owens
Minnesota — Aiden Schneider, "Reagan," honoring Ronald Reagan
Mississippi — Hailey Beth Boland, "To the Moon and Back," honoring Neil Armstrong
Missouri — Dylan Stewart, "The Little Colonel," honoring Shirley Temple
Montana — Asher Hudson, "Good Night, Dear Heart," honoring Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
Nebraska — Jewel Denker, "Finite Peace," honoring Red Cloud
Nevada — Xavier Roodhouse, "Shattering the Sun," honoring Jimmy Doolittle
New Jersey — Serena Jung, "Rough Rider," honoring Theodore Roosevelt
New Mexico and Bureau of Indian Education — Ibnijah Guerro, "Lincoln," honoring Abraham Lincoln
New York — Maggie Jiang, "Teddy," honoring Theodore Roosevelt
North Carolina — Caleigh Conlin, "Carolton's Ride," honoring Charles Carroll
North Dakota — Kinsee Huntimer, "Feathered Indian," honoring Sitting Bull
Northern Mariana Islands — Jihun Park, "Just Hope," honoring Harriet Tubman
Ohio — Emma Liu, "The Conductor of Light," honoring Harriet Tubman
Oklahoma — Jonathan Riddle, "Golden Swan of the Osage," honoring Maria Tallchief
Oregon — Savanna Marcle, "Sit and Wait," honoring Sitting Bull
Pennsylvania — Solomiia Zhukova, "All Men are Created Equal," honoring Thomas Jefferson
South Carolina — Ruiwen Zhong, "Glory," honoring Lauren Bacall
South Dakota — Daniel R. Grabitske, "The Defender of Little Roundtop," honoring Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Tennessee — Genesis Maier, "Kin-Ya-Onny-Beyeh," honoring Carl Gorman
Texas — Rebecca Smith, "General Dwight D. Eisenhower," honoring Dwight D. Eisenhower
United States Virgin Islands — J'Leah Arielle Connor, "ˈhɪst̬ɚri," honoring Alexander Hamilton
Utah — Jade Weeks, "Rugged Endurance," honoring Sitting Bull
Virginia — Sadie Springhetti, "Partners," honoring Walt Disney
Washington — Clair Shipley, "Mother of the West," honoring Sacagawea
Wisconsin — Amy Osborne, "Mark Twain," honoring Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) 

About the American Heroes Student Art Contest

The American Heroes Student Art Contest invited students across the nation to create original artwork celebrating the individuals, events, and ideals that have shaped America's history. Participants selected historical figures from the future National Garden of American Heroes and produced original two-dimensional artwork accompanied by artist statements reflecting on their chosen subject's enduring significance.

More than 1,000 student submissions were evaluated through multiple rounds of judging by artists, educators, historians, Freedom 250, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. State and territory winners advanced to regional judging before distinguished judges, including Second Lady Usha Vance, selected the national winners. The contest is part of the nationwide commemoration of America's 250th anniversary and encourages young Americans to engage with the nation's history through artistic expression and historical reflection.

THE FREEDOM 250 NETWORK: Freedom 250 is the national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday. Working together with the White House Task Force 250, federal agencies, and the Commission, Freedom 250 serves as the official public-private partnership that connects, aligns, and amplifies national and local efforts to deliver the defining presidential moments of this anniversary year. At its heart, Freedom 250 is creating a movement of citizens, organizations, companies, and leaders from across the country to honor our Nation’s proud history, cherish our God-given freedoms, and build the Golden Age of Opportunity for the next 250 years. For more information or to join the movement, visit Freedom250.org.

National Endowment for the Humanities: The National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at neh.gov.