Announcing the Dear George Washington Contest winners for 2018–2019

The Dear George Washington Contest is an annual writing contest for Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School students in grades 2–5. The contest introduces students to the issues facing early Americans and encourages them to think critically about the founding of the nation. Each student contestant writes a letter of 250–300 words to President George Washington, telling the President what to focus on during his first term. Students write as though they were present at George Washington’s inauguration on April 30, 1789, in New York City.

We received a record 343 entries for this year’s contest, many outstanding. The contest judges were 2017 California History Teacher of the Year Carol Grossi, 2015 Rhode Island History Teacher of the Year Denise Moretti-Foggo, and Gilder Lehrman Institute Education Coordinator Daniel Pecoraro.

In each grade, $100 is awarded for 1st place, $75 for 2nd, $50 for 3rd, and $25 for 4th. Each winner is invited to record themselves reading their letter to be posted on our website. In addition, each winner’s school will receive a copy of the American History: An Introduction from the History in a Box series. Each entrant will also receive a certificate of participation and a grade-appropriate book on George Washington. 

The winners and honorable mentions are:

5th Grade

1st Place: Haiden Grenier, Notre Dame Academy, Palisades Park, NJ

2nd Place: Alexandre Abrams, Bullis Charter School, Los Altos, CA

3rd Place: Kaitlin Li, PS 174 William Sidney Mount School, Rego Park, NY

4th Place: Nathan Sottomano Santiago, Holy Cross School, Santa Cruz, CA

4th Grade

1st Place: Anna Nassar, Saint James Catholic School, Falls Church, VA

2nd Place: Gina Ha, Notre Dame Academy, Palisades Park, NJ

3rd Place: Rishi Chundury, The Independent School, Wichita, KS

4th Place: Lily Eldridge, Wolftrap Elementary School, Vienna, VA

3rd Grade

1st Place: Asyncritus Alfons, UB Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School, West Palm Beach, FL

2nd Place: Cullen Nivens, University Christian School, Jacksonville, FL

3rd Place: Ellah Bailey, Morning Star Elementary School, Bozeman, MT

4th Place: Laura Naves Moreira, Martinson Elementary School, Marshfield, MA

2nd Grade

1st Place: Gerardo Reyes, Three Rivers Elementary School, Three Rivers, CA

2nd Place: Mason Rogers, St. Mary Parish Catholic School, Derby, KS

3rd Place: Grant Fulton, University Christian School, Jacksonville, FL

4th Place: Kai Tashiro, Three Rivers Elementary School, Three Rivers, CA

Honorable Mentions

Emily Baynard, Brandywine Elementary School, Wilmington, DE

Juliana Kuskin, Notre Dame Academy, Palisades Park, NJ

Brodie Palladinetti, Brandywine Elementary School, Wilmington, DE

Prishaa Shrimali, Notre Dame Academy, Palisades Park, NJ

Kemper Ulrich, St. Peter's Catholic School, Lincoln, NE

Yasmin White, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, Forest City, NC

Congratulations to all these excellent young writers and historians!