About the Contest
As part of the Veterans Legacy Program, the Gilder Lehrman Institute is pleased to announce the ten winners of the 2024 World War II: Portraits of Service Award. Each of the winning essays, podcasts, documentaries, and poems highlight the remarkable life and service of American Veterans. Please see the prizewinning entries below.
All Winners
Ana Baclayon
Grade: 11
School: Hawai'i Technology Academy, HI
Featured Veteran: Herbert Weatherwax
Title: “Counting My Blessings”
Virginia Barca
Grade: 7
School: Sacred Heart Grade School, NY
Featured Veteran: Richard E. Cole
Title: “A Dash - The Life of Richard E. Cole”
Andrew Gottlieb
Grade: 10
School: Collegiate School, NY
Featured Veteran: Gilbert Endecavageh
Title: “Gilbert Endecavageh in the Battle of Attu”
Ari Korpus
Grade: 10
School: Collegiate School, NY
Featured Veteran: Sidney B. Viele Jr.
Title: “Sidney B. Viele Jr., Engineer Hill, and the Battle of Attu”
Luke Kosner
Grade: 10
School: Collegiate School, NY
Featured Veteran: Telemachos L. Michael
Title: “The Cypriot-American Patriot”
Ami Mai
Grade: 8
School: Boston Latin School, MA
Featured Veteran: Annie Fox
Title: “Annie Fox: A Profile of Strengths, Sacrifices, and Legacies”
Chichi Nnaji
Grade: 11
School: Ursuline Academy of Dallas, TX
Featured Veteran: Doris Miller
Title: “Veteran Doris Miller Tribute”
Samantha Randazzo
Grade: 7
School: Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, MD
Featured Veteran: Charity Adams
Title: “The Transparent Woman”
Ean Sebastian Soh
Grade: 11
School: Leonia High School, NJ
Featured Veteran: Richard E. Kraus
Title: “Richard E. Kraus - Hero of Peleliu”
Abdullah Solangi
Grade: 10
School: Frederick Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center, IL
Featured Veteran: Warren J. Koepke
Title: “Warrior Warren”
Documentary
Ana Baclayon
Grade: 11
School: Hawai'i Technology Academy, HI
Featured Veteran: Herbert Weatherwax
Title: “Counting My Blessings”
Ean Sebastian Soh
Grade: 11
School: Leonia High School, NJ
Featured Veteran: Richard E. Kraus
Title: “Richard E. Kraus - Hero of Peleliu”
Essay
Andrew Gottlieb
Grade: 10
School: Collegiate School, NY
Featured Veteran: Gilbert Endecavageh
Title: “Gilbert Endecavageh in the Battle of Attu”
Ari Korpus
Grade: 11
School: Collegiate School, NY
Featured Veteran: Sidney B. Viele Jr.
Title: “Sidney B. Viele Jr., Engineer Hill, and the Battle of Attu”
Luke Kosner
Grade: 10
School: Collegiate School, NY
Featured Veteran: Telemachos L. Michael
Title: “The Cypriot-American Patriot”
Ami Mai
Grade: 8
School: Boston Latin School, MA
Featured Veteran: Annie Fox
Title: “Annie Fox: A Profile of Strengths, Sacrifices, and Legacies”
Chichi Nnaji
Grade: 11
School: Ursuline Academy of Dallas, TX
Featured Veteran: Doris Miller
Title: “Veteran Doris Miller Tribute”
Podcast
Samantha Randazzo
Grade: 7
School: Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, MD
Featured Veteran: Charity Adams
Title: “The Transparent Woman”
Poem
Virginia Barca
Grade: 7
School: Sacred Heart Grade School, NY
Featured Veteran: Richard E. Cole
Title: “A Dash - The Life of Richard E. Cole”
Abdullah Solangi
Grade: 10
School: Frederick Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center, IL
Featured Veteran: Warren J. Koepke
Title: “Warrior Warren”