2026 ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS
Tied for first place
Name: Neema Patel
School : Lisa Academy North High School
City and State: Little Rock Arkansas
Brief reflection: Writing my essay on Brown v. Board of Education gave me the opportunity to look beyond the Supreme Court decision itself and learn more about the children, families, attorneys, and communities whose courage helped challenge segregation in American education. What stood out to me most was that this was not simply a legal case; it was about real children who deserved the same opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. Researching the case deepened my appreciation for the importance of education, equality, and the courage it takes to stand up against injustice. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to learn more about this important part of American history and to share what I learned through my writing.
Tied for first place
Name: Diego Limon
School : SunCoast High School
City and State: West Palm Beach Florida
I first want to express my immense gratitude to the organization for giving us the chance to express ourselves on an event as important as the Brown v. Board of Education case was. Having the opportunity to compete in a competition like this allowed me to develop both my personal writing skills and also deepened my understanding of how the political and social standings of our society have been shaped by past issues. I believe that the essay served as a valuable chance to really analyze how underlying
contexts could influence a historical event and therefore our current society. After all, this court case affects our very interactions with others daily. It would be difficult to
imagine how existing racial issues could be worse if such a crucial step toward equality was not taken with the ruling in the case. The case showed the need to go against precedent when the time calls for it, and I can only be grateful to have been able to express my experience with the contest. So once again, I want to say, thank you for this opportunity.
Third PLace
Name: Coraiyah Bradley
School : Calhoun County High School
City and State: Edison, Ga
I’m truly grateful to have been selected as the third place winner of the 2026 Black History Essay Contest. Writing about Brown v. Board of Education gave me a better understanding of the importance of education, equality, and the people who fought for change. This experience showed me that my voice and my writing can make an impact, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my work.