Three Students Recognized in 2026 Junior Scholastic Eyewitness to History Contest

For the past 15 years, Junior Scholastic®, a social studies magazine for students in grades 6-8, has run the popular Eyewitness to History contest. The contest inspires middle schoolers to become historians themselves, by interviewing a person about their firsthand experience of a historical event.

This year’s grand prize winner is Sabrina Sherman, a 6th grader at Coral Springs Middle School in Coral Springs, Florida.

Sabrina interviewed Frieda Justen, a Polish woman who survived the Holocaust and a Soviet forced labor camp during World War II. For her grand prize-winning piece, Sabrina and her teacher, Barbara Fronrath, will each receive a $250 prize. You can read Sabrina’s interview with Frieda in the May/June 2026 issue of Junior Scholastic and online, here.

The editors of Junior Scholastic also selected two runners-up, who will each receive a $50 prize for their entries. They are:

Markian Adamiv, 7th grade, Incarnate Word Academy, Parma Heights, Ohio

Markian interviewed a family friend, Sergiy Havrylyk, about his experience in the cleanup of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Markian’s teacher is Stacy Shalala.

Nancy Johnson, 5th grade, Platte Clove School, Elka Park, New York

Nancy interviewed her grandfather, Manuel Carvalho, about his experience as a soldier during the Vietnam War. Nancy’s teacher is Joann Zimmerman.

Congratulations to Sabrina, Markian, Nancy, their teachers, and all of this year’s contest participants. Thank you also to the interviewees who shared their inspiring experiences. Stay tuned for more details about next year’s Eyewitness to History contest in Junior Scholastic this fall.