06/20/2026
Announcing our 2026 Juneteenth High School Essay Contest winners! ❤️💛💚
For this year’s prompt we asked students to reflect on what or who in their culture has had a significant impact on their understanding of freedom, and how that helps them connect to the people around them. 🙃
We are overjoyed with all the wisdom and effort that our 4 winners put into their essays. Congratulations Esther Lian, Stella Benson, Dwayne White, and Nae’Ary Wilson!
We are proud of our BC youth!
Congratulations to Esther Lian, our first place winner! 🥇
From Lakeview High School, Esther inspired us with this quote: “The freedoms I enjoy now did not appear out of nowhere. They were shaped by generations before me.”
Congratulations to Stella Benson, our 2nd place tie winner! 🥈
From Lakeview High School, Stella inspired us with this quote: “To me, freedom is being able to become, to grow without fear or guilt, to speak, and to realize being who you are is not something to apologize for, it is deliverance.”
Congratulations to Dwayne White, our 2nd place tie winner! 🥈
From Lakeview High School, Dwayne inspired us with this quote: “... freedom is not only something fought for, but it’s something passed down. And the way you honor it is by choosing to uplift others.”
Congratulations to Nae’Ary Wilson, our 3rd place winner! 🥉
From Battle Creek Central, Nae’Ary inspired us with this quote: “Earning freedom not only means that the chains are removed, but that individuals are provided with the opportunity to obtain dignity, enjoy life with a purpose of living, and invest in their future self’s.”
