Announcement

HNOC Announces Winners of 2025 “Making It Home” Student Writing Contest

April 28, 2025

Our 2025 Student Writing Contest asked elementary, middle, and high school students to reflect on forced migrations—past, present, or imagined.

A photo of printed entries lying on a table, from HNOC's 2025 Student Writing Contest entitled "Making It Home".

Related Exhibition

Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans

April 4 to October 5, 2025

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In conjunction with the exhibition Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans, HNOC’s 2025 Student Writing Contest asked elementary, middle, and high school students to reflect on forced migrations—past, present, or imagined. Young writers from across the country drew on their own family stories, current events, and historical knowledge in essays that are imaginative, rich, and moving. More than 500 students submitted entries for this year’s contest.

Congratulations to all of our 2025 winners and honorable mentions!

Elementary School

First Place: “My Grandma” by Trinian Faulkner, 4th grade, St. Joseph Catholic School, Jefferson County, AL
Second Place: “What Makes It Home” by Ada Knoll, 5th grade, Homeschool, New Orleans, LA
Third Place: “Leaving Honduras” by Nicolle Mendoza, 5th grade, Terrytown Elementary, Terrytown, LA
Honorable Mention: “The Heroic Escape” by Alex Jackson, 4th grade, Academy of the Sacred Heart, New Orleans, LA

Middle School

First Place: “My Grandfather’s Journey To America” by Adeline Maldonado, 6th grade, Willow School, New Orleans, LA
Second Place: “Moving” by Sawyer Uhlman, 6th grade, Willow School, New Orleans, LA
Third Place: “Fleeing Theu Freedom” by Becket Faulkner, 7th grade, St. Joseph Catholic School, Jefferson County, AL
Honorable Mention: “The Stories and Cultures of the Melting Pot” by Braden Fox, 8th grade, Brother Martin High School, New Orleans, LA

High School

First Place: Untitled by Nina Le, 11th grade, Benjamin Franklin High School, New Orleans, LA
Second Place: “Six Things I Learned About the Last Time I Evacuated” by Theo Santanilla, 11th grade, Willow School, New Orleans, LA
Third Place: “Diary 1: Leaving” by Jennifer Dang, 9th grade, Morrow High School, Ellenwood, GA
Honorable Mention: “A Smile That Was Once Hers” by Emma Pham, 11th grade, Benjamin Franklin High School, New Orleans, LA

Read the nine winning selections and three honorable mentions chosen from more than 500 submissions, below.

Learn & Explore

2025 Student Writing Contest: “Making It Home”

Students respond to themes inspired by HNOC’s exhibition Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.

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