July 30, 2026
America250-Ohio@fahlgren.com
America 250-Ohio Announces 2026 America’s Field Trip Awardees
Delaware, Westerville, and Mansfield students chosen for inspiring reflection on “What Does America Mean to You?”
COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 30, 2026) — Two Ohio ninth graders and one eleventh grader have been named among 125 winners of the “America’s Field Trip,” a national essay contest, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
More than 10,000 students in grades 3-12 from all 50 states and 5 U.S. Territories submitted essays reflecting on the question: “What does America mean to you?”
The three Ohio students and a family member will embark on immersive, unforgettable field trips to iconic American historical and cultural sites this summer, and the 125 second-place awardees are receiving a cash award. This marks the third group of America’s Field Trip awardees recognized by America250.
“America’s Field Trip is a transformative opportunity for students across the country to engage with our nation’s history in meaningful, lasting ways,” said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. “Our tentpole programs are intentionally designed to be hands-on, educational and engaging. America’s Field Trip truly brings the story of America to life and allows a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students to experience American history and national treasures up close.”
The First Place Field Trip awardees from Ohio include:
- Vikram D., 9th Grade, Delaware County (his winning submission can be viewed here)
- Reba K., 9th Grade, Mansfield (her submission can be viewed here).
- Owen D., 11th Grade, Westerville
“We are incredibly proud that three Ohio students were recognized as winners,” said Todd Kleismit, executive director of America 250-Ohio. “Their thoughtful reflections on what America means to them can serve as an inspiration to us all as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary.” Each first-place awardee was allowed to choose a specially curated experience. Ohio winners Vikram D. and Owen D. chose the opportunity to visit Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming and enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the nation’s most beloved sites, while Reba K. chose to visit Charleston, South Carolina to enjoy private tours of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, the International
African American Museum, and the South Carolina Aquarium.
Vikram won first place in his division (1 of 41 high school winners). His winning essay was selected from 10,000 submitted nationwide. He took his award trip to Yellowstone in July 2026 soon after learning his essay had been chosen for a first-place prize. His winning essay focused on fresh food access and his time volunteering at Columbus-based Mid-Ohio Food Bank, which directly inspired him to launch a nonprofit called Harvest Forward. The group provides families in need with fresh, nutritious and culturally relevant food. “I think everyone deserves access to fresh food,” said Vikram. “I volunteer at food banks and have noticed a problem with the lack of fresh food. Much of it is already on its last leg. Every time I volunteered, I saw the same issue and it made me think about what it would be like to be in the shoes of the people relying on that food. Seeing this made me want to write about the experience and share how it made me feel.”
For a full list of awardees and a selection of winning submissions, please visit america250.org/fieldtrip/awardees.
About America 250-Ohio:
In 2026, the United States is celebrating its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state is creating a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. Cenovus Energy has signed on as the Visionary Sponsor for Ohio’s statewide programming. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM 250- OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.
