The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 President Gerald R. Ford Student Writing Challenge. Over $8,000 was awarded to winners and their teachers.

This year’s theme asked students to consider the question:

In your life, what has prepared you to follow Gerald Ford’s example of answering the call to serve, especially if the call is unexpected?

The prompt was inspired by one of the most extraordinary moments in American political history. On August 9, 1974, Gerald R. Ford became the 38th President of the United States—the first person in U.S. history to assume the presidency without being elected to that office or the vice presidency. In his inaugural remarks, Ford acknowledged the gravity of the moment, saying, “I have not sought this enormous responsibility, but I will not shirk it.”

Students were challenged to explore what experiences, influences, or values in their own lives have prepared them to answer the call to service—even when it arrives unexpectedly.

From a strong field of essays submitted by students across the country, the Foundation is pleased to announce the following winners:

First Place ($2,500) - Santiago Ortega-Brown, Tuckahoe High School – Eastchester, NY

Second Place ($1,500) - Christian Hudnall, Strake Jesuit High School – Humble, TX

Third Place ($1,000) - Trenton Belton, East Kentwood High School – Kentwood, MI

Honorable Mentions ($500 each)

Ella Pearl Coopersmith – San Marin High School, Petaluma, CA
Madeline Murchison – Hudsonville High School, Hudsonville, MI
Dylan M. Smith – Sleepy Hollow High School, Sleepy Hollow, NY
Anna Masonic – Lone Peak High School, Big Sky, MT
William Koh – Flintridge Preparatory School, Los Angeles, CA

“Congratulations to our winners and thanks to our judges!” said Gleaves Whitney, executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. “Reading this year’s essays has been inspiring. The rising generation cares deeply about engaging with others when it comes to our civic virtues, values, and conversations. No one who has read these wonderful essays can feel anything but hopeful about America’s future. I hope to meet these young people at the Ford in the near future.”

“Students rose to the challenge this year in describing how they have and will continue to prepare to be a leader in their community, just like President Ford,” said Brooke Clement, director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. “We had to make difficult decisions as we narrowed down and chose from such a large field of quality submissions. The breadth of examples shared have me feeling very hopeful for our future!”