UVA announces winners of 2025 Voices of Democracy Student Writing Contest

The UVA Center for Community Partnerships and the Digital Technology for Democracy Lab had 141 entries from middle- and high-school students in Albemarle County and Charlottesville into their 2025 Voices of Democracy Student Writing Contest.

The big winner: Liam Meador, a sophomore at Western Albemarle High School.

“I entered because the contest combines two of my passions – America and writing,” said Meador, who earned a $500 cash prize for his winning entry. “Winning is so much more than a prize; it is a way to stand up, use my voice, and speak for what democracy is to me. It is so important that young people find a way to express themselves. For me, that form of expression is writing. It is something that many in my generation have forgotten the art of due to technology.”

Second place, and a $250 cash prize, went to Lennox Meslar, a sixth-grade student at J.T. Henley Middle School.

Third place, and a $100 cash prize, went to Gabriel Guex Petros, a seventh-grade student at Burley Middle School.

Honorable mention, and a $50 cash prize, went to Milan Mookerjee, a junior at Albemarle High School.

Read the winning submissions here

“Their voices matter,” said Laurent Dubois, academic director at the Karsh Institute of Democracy at UVA, a partner in the contest. “Through writing, these young people contribute to the democratic conversation in a meaningful way, and we hope this contest helps amplify them.”

“We’re thrilled to see how this year’s students have grappled with the impact of technology on civic life,” said Dr. Ben Allen, executive director of the Center for Community Partnerships. “With more than four times the number of submissions we received last year, their work shows that youth are not only aware of challenges but are eager to share their ideas of a better future.”