Crossett Brook 8th grader wins a top prize in annual Hildene essay contest

May 19, 2026  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

Crossett Brook Middle School 8th grader Ari Weigand is a Hildene Lincoln Essay Contest first-place regional winner. Courtesy photo

A Crossett Brook Middle School eighth grader took a top prize in the annual Hildene Lincoln Essay Competition that celebrated its winners at a ceremony this past weekend.

Ari Weigand’s essay, “A Promise to History,” was the first-place winner in the contest’s regional category that includes entries from students in Grand Isle, Franklin, Orleans, Essex, Lamoille, Caledonia, and Washington counties.

The honor comes with a $500 award for the Waterbury student. Ari’s teacher for the submission was Ethan Cody, who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade language arts at Crossett Brook. 

In its 20th year, the contest had 147 submissions from Vermont students this year, according to the Hildene website. Judges select first-, second-, and third-place winners in each of four regional categories. This year had a tie for third place in one region, and three honorable mentions were also selected. 

Located in Manchester, Vermont, Hildene began as the summer home of Robert Lincoln, the only child of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive into adulthood. The 412-acre estate is now owned and managed by a nonprofit organization, and its home, grounds, gardens, and farm are open to the public. Among its historical exhibits is a restored Pullman railcar built during Robert Lincoln’s tenure as company president from 1897 to 1911. 

Part of Hildene’s mission is to encourage civil civic discourse, especially around difficult subjects. In a nod to this year’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the contest invited students to write on a topic inspired by the founding document and its roots in the ideal that “all men are created equal” with certain “unalienable rights” and that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” 

In teeing-up the essay writing prompt, contest organizers shared quotations from President Lincoln, including: “I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.” They noted that Lincoln’s central argument against slavery was that it directly contradicted the core principles laid out in the declaration. 

The contest prompt had multiple parts. Writers were asked to “identify one liberty or principle expressed in the Declaration of Independence and connect it to one current issue that shows how that principle is being either eroded, upheld, or strengthened in America today.” The contest rules laid out suggestions for themes such as equality, liberty, pursuit of happiness, consent of the governed, and rule of law.

The 500-word pieces were to describe the issue and the action proposed or happening to address it. Writers had to include the impact of the action and whether it weakens or upholds the principle they chose. Essays also were to include a personal reflection on how the issue might affect the writer’s own life or community.  

In announcing the winners, the contest described each of the essays that the judges selected.

Ari’s winning essay argues that, while the principle of equality is the cornerstone of the Declaration of Independence and was reinforced by the 14th Amendment, systemic discrimination—especially in immigration enforcement—continues to undermine its promise. The piece emphasizes that achieving equality in the United States has required constant action that continues today to ensure those protections are fully realized.

Second- and third-place winners in the region were students from Peoples Academy and All Saints Academy, both in Morrisville. Third-place winners receive $400, second-place awards are $300, and honorable mention prizes are $200. 

The contest judges commended all of the entrants, saying they were impressed by how well the eighth-graders tackled the writing challenge, submitting thoughtful reflections to the panel. 

“By connecting America’s founding principles to the present moment, students wrote compellingly about a wide range of topics, actions, and resulting implications for society at large and within their own communities,” they said in their announcement. “Such engagement bodes well for the continuing work of democracy and provides a beacon of hope for the future. Hildene salutes everyone who participated, with additional gratitude for the educators, parents, and guardians who provided encouragement.”

See more about the contest online here and more about Hildene at hildene.org.