HILDENE CELEBRATES LINCOLN ESSAY COMPETITION WINNERS
Hildene’s Lincoln Hall will be electric with anticipation on Sunday, May 17th as winners of the 20th Annual Vermont 8th Grade Lincoln Essay Competition are honored at a celebratory awards luncheon.
Manchester, VT, May 6, 2026 —
For the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Hildene invited Vermont’s
8th graders to reflect on the document’s enduring significance. Essays were limited to 500 or fewer words. Hildene received 147 essays statewide. In each of four regions, first-, second-, and third-place winners were selected, along with three honorable mentions overall. Awards: first place, $500; second, $400; third, $300; honorable mention, $200.
By connecting America’s founding principles to the present moment, students wrote compellingly about a wide range of topics and the implications for society and their own communities. Hildene congratulates the Award Winners and commends every participant for thoughtful reflections that bode well for the continuing work of democracy.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2026 LEC WINNERS
Region One (Grand Isle, Franklin, Orleans, Essex, Lamoille, Caledonia, Washington):
1st, Ari Weigand (Crossett Brook Middle School, Duxbury); 2nd, Sevvi Bickerstaff (Peoples Academy Middle Level, Morrisville); 3rd, Sonja Dalton (All Saints Catholic Academy, Morrisville).
Region Two (Chittenden): 1st, Adeline Laughlin (Edmunds Middle School, Burlington);
2nd, Arielle Eden Greenblatt (Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne);
3rd, Ella Bayer-Pacht (Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne).
Honorable mention: Wesley Price (Mater Christi School, Burlington).
Region Three (Addison, Rutland, Bennington): 1st, Dylan Miksis (Maple Street School, Manchester Center); 2nd, Peyton Allen (Rutland Middle School);
Tie for 3rd: Oliver Mitchell (Rutland Middle School) and Viva Macleod (Long Trail School, Dorset). Honorable mention: Isla Dowd (Maple Street School).
Region Four (Orange, Windsor, Windham): 1st, Norah Wolfe (Woodstock Union Middle School); 2nd, Luca Mnookin (Brattleboro Area Middle School); 3rd, Elsa Anders (Brattleboro Area Middle School). Honorable mention: Evie Thom (Upper Valley Waldorf School, Quechee).
The public and the press are welcome to attend the celebration. For more information and to register for the luncheon, visit Hildene.org. For media inquiries or photo files, contact Marketing@hildene.org.
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