EdNews Virginia | September 4, 2026
The Virginia War Memorial (VWM) is calling on students across the Commonwealth to honor local heroes through its 2026 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest. The annual competition invites Virginia’s middle and high school students to practice their research and writing skills while connecting with the rich military history of their communities.
The prompt for the 2026 contest is both personal and profound: “A Virginian who served in the United States military who inspires you.”
Students are encouraged to write about a family member, a community figure, or a famous Virginian who served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces from World War II to the present day.
Eligibility and Requirements
The contest is open to all Virginia public, private, and home school students. Entries will be judged in two categories: Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12).
To qualify, essays must be:
- Between 500 and 750 words in length.
- Backed by at least one primary source (such as an interview, military records, letters, or newspaper clippings).
- Accompanied by a properly cited bibliography in either APA or MLA format.
- Original and unassisted. The Memorial strictly prohibits the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to produce the essays.
Submissions will be judged on clarity of thought, adherence to the theme, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Prizes and Recognition
The Virginia War Memorial Foundation will award a $500 cash prize to one middle school winner and one high school winner.
In addition to the monetary prize, the two winning students will receive a special invitation to travel to Richmond and participate in the Commonwealth’s 70th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, held at the Virginia War Memorial on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
Research Resources
Educators and parents are encouraged to use this contest as an opportunity to teach students about primary source research. Students are welcome to conduct interviews with living veterans or people who knew them.
Additionally, the Virginia War Memorial Archives are available as a resource. Students may contact VWM Archivist Sylvia Marshall (Sylvia.Marshall@DVS.Virginia.gov) for assistance viewing archival materials and oral histories that could help shape their essays.
How to Enter
All essays must be submitted electronically via the Virginia War Memorial website. The deadline for submission is Monday, October 12, 2026, at 11:59 PM. For all contest rules, submission forms, and to read about last year’s winners, students and educators should visit the Virginia War Memorial’s official contest page.