2026 Special Prize Winners

African American Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: The Jensen Family)

Dhruv Patel
American Heritage School - Palm Beach Campus 
Teacher: Riley Sarkela

American History Innovation Award
(Sponsored by: In memory of Norman Schroeder)

Mackenzie Walker
Lakewood Ranch High School 
Teacher: Thomas Honsa

American Revolution Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: Florida Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, Inc.)

Kinsley Giguere, Kennedy Nickolaou, Haley Warren, Ainsley Williams
Windy Hill Middle School 
Teacher: Julia Martin

Best Use of Primary Sources: Junior Division
(Sponsored by: Society of Florida Archivists)

      Cinthia Rodriquez Castellanos
      University Academy Sabl, Inc. 
      Teacher: Dianne Johnston

Best Use of Primary Sources: Senior Division
(Sponsored by: Society of Florida Archivists)

Shaoxuan Ma
Lawton Chiles High School
Teacher: Wes Singletary

Celebrate Freedom Award
(Sponsored by: James Madison Institute)

Yichen Ou
Lawton Chiles High School 
Teacher: Wes Singletary

Colonial Americas Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: Florida Council for History Education)

Erick Brusamarello, Enoch Hong, Jakob Hong
FAU / SLCSD Palm Pointe Educational Research School 
Teacher: Melanie Larsen

Economic Freedom Award
(Sponsored by: James Madison Institute)

Bryce Merner, Rayan Mohtadi, Francisco Eichenberg Pinto
Gulliver Prep School 
Teacher: Jacqueline Grant

Florida Archival Research Award
(Sponsored by: Friends of the State Library and Archives of Florida)

        Peyton Chester, Lucy Mitchem
        Pensacola High School
        Teacher: James Jones

Florida Coastal History Award: Junior Division
(Sponsored by: Florida Lighthouse Association)

        Wake Stern
        Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8
        Teacher: Rebecca Lang

Florida Coastal History Award: Senior Division
(Sponsored by: Florida Lighthouse Association)

        Adelle DiPalo, Emily Ebert, Zoie Goodwin
        Weeki Wachee High School
        Teacher: Damien Clark

Florida Digital History Award
(Sponsored by: Friends of the State Library and Archives of Florida)

Lamees El Naqa
Alonso High School 
Teacher: Eric Gavin

Florida Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: Florida Historical Society)

Brooklyn Clear, Kendall Johnson, Emma Miller, Brynn Vizcaino
Dr. John Long Middle School
Teacher: Molley Kamtam

Florida Historic Preservation Award
(Sponsored by: Friends of Florida History, Inc.)

        Myliah Melendez
        Howard Middle School
        Teacher: Pamela Earnest

Frederick Cubberly Florida History Award
(Sponsored by: Florida Historical Society)

       Lily Hagan
       Sunlake High School 
       Teacher: Yamaira Betancourt

Hispanic Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: Florida Council for History Education and NSDAR, Fort San Luis Chapter)

Ava Gerlach, Evelyn Miller
Howard Middle School
Teacher: Pamela Earnest

Holocaust Education Award
(Sponsored by: Holocaust Education Task Force)

       Zoya Bajaj, Yana Brahmankar, Chrvitha Kommuru, Anvitha Pothula 
       Williams Middle Magnet School 
       Teacher: Monica Dutzar

Mapping History Award
(Sponsored by: Florida Geographic Alliance)

       Jack Spencer
       Pensacola High School 
       Teacher: James Jones

Military Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: Friends of Florida History, Inc.)

       Lucy Duffy
       Pine View Middle School 
       Teacher: Jenn O'Connor

Native American Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: NSDAR, Fort San Luis Chapter)

       Scarlett Burgos
       Tampa Catholic High School 
       Teacher: M. Staubitz

Science Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: Tallahassee Scientific Society)

Andrew Harrell 
Pensacola High School
Teacher: James Jones

Sports Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: Specialty Sportswear and Promotions, LLC)

Ameliah Piercy, Carmen Thomas
Fox Chapel Middle School
Teacher: Holly Record

Women’s Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: In memory of Norma Wasmuth by Dr. Teresa Bergstrom)

Mackenzie Walker
Lakewood Ranch High School 
Teacher: Thomas Honsa

World War II Heritage Award
(Sponsored by: Friends of Florida History, Inc.)

Mikayla Jones
Breakfast Point Academy
Teacher: Christine Sermons