We are thrilled to announce the winners of the "Voices of Democracy: What Democracy Means to Me" writing contest, hosted by The Equity Center, the Karsh Institute of Democracy, and a distinguished panel of expert judges. This contest invited 6th through 12th-grade students from Charlottesville City and Albemarle County, whether attending public, private, or homeschool programs, to reflect on democracy through poetry or prose. Students’ personal insights and creative reflections truly shined, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.
Winners were selected from three age groups: 6th to 8th graders, 9th to 10th graders, and 11th to 12th graders. With 42 thoughtful submissions, the panel of judges selected the following six winners and honorable mentions:
Grand Prize Winner
- Winner: Aanya Sonkusare, Joseph T. Henley Middle School, Grade 8
>>> Read Aanya's submission here
Runner Up Prize Winner
- Winner: Liv Cordano, Charlottesville High School, Grade 9
>>> Read Liv's submission here
3rd Place Winner
- Winner: Eleanor Carter, St. Anne’s-Belfield School, Grade 11
>>> Read Eleanor's submission here
Honorable Mentions
- Amerson-Joi "AJ" Wright, Jackson P. Burley Middle School, Grade 8
>>> Read Amerson-Joi "AJ" Wright's submission here - Halil Stinnie, Journey Middle School, Grade 8
>>> Read Halil's submission here - Max Harris, Western Albemarle High School, Grade 9
>>> Read Max's submission here
In addition to the recognition, two winners will receive $50 each, and the overall contest winner’s piece will be read by UVA graduate Jessiah Lucien at a Karsh Institute of Democracy reception on October 17th at UVA’s Rotunda. The overall winner will also receive a $500 prize, and the runner-up will receive a $250 prize.
We also wish to extend our gratitude to the esteemed panel of judges: Eileen Chou from the Frank Batten School at UVA, UVA alum Josh Harris, Rayne Macphee from the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center, Larry Roberts from the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, Graham Page from the Albemarle County Public School Board, Price Thomas from City of Promise, Stephanie D. Van Hover from UVA’s School of Education and Human Development, Karen Waters from Albemarle County Public Schools, and Ben Wilkes from the United Way of Greater Charlottesville. They praised the students' exceptional talent and insight and found the submissions so impressive that an unplanned honorable mention category was created to recognize even more students.
The essays provided a rich exploration of how democracy affects the daily lives of students and their communities. Teachers in Charlottesville and Albemarle County also incorporated the contest’s prompts as an instructional tool, helping students engage deeply with the concept of democracy. Even though many of these essays were not submitted for the contest, the feedback has shown that the exercise was a valuable and dynamic classroom experience. Key questions the students answered through their writing include:
- How does democracy show up in your life and/or the lives of the people you love?
- How would you like democracy to be a part of your everyday life?
- What are your hopes and dreams for democracy?
This contest honors the spirit of civic engagement and critical thinking, as we look forward to the grand opening of the new Karsh Institute of Democracy building, slated for completion in late 2026.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and participants for their outstanding work and for enriching our understanding of what democracy means to the next generation.
For more information, contact Sydney Shuler at vrh7de@virginia.edu
