The assignment was simple on its surface: choose one person who showed courage during World War II, and make the case for why it mattered. What came back from more than 400 middle school students across 20 Spring Education Group (SEG) campuses made the case for why history education must go beyond recall, and ask students to reckon with it instead.

The competition, themed “Courage During Crisis: Acts of Bravery in World War II” invited middle school students from across the network to explore lesser-known or deeply human stories of resilience during the war. Students wrote about resistance fighters and factory workers. They connected wartime decisions to the choices people face today. Several asked, in their own words, what they would have done in that moment.

From Shostakovich’s symphony to teachers and librarians risking their lives to educate, to Olga Bergholz reading poetry in frozen rooms, culture became a form of resistance that kept the city alive in body and soul. Today, during the ongoing war in Ukraine, civilians show courage, while continuing to create, perform, and educate even under constant threat.” – Ellie Alter, 1st Place, BASIS Independent Manhattan  — Keeping the Spirit Alive in the Darkest Hours

“History becomes far more powerful when students see themselves in it,” said Jeanne Huybrechts, Spring Education Group’s Chief Academic Officer. “When they begin asking ‘What would I have done?’ that’s when learning moves from content to capability.”

The judging panel, which included experts from outside the SEG network, evaluated essays for historical accuracy, use of primary sources, and depth of analysis. The essays were analytical, specific, and a genuine pleasure to judge.

The winning essays went beyond the mere reporting of facts. They carefully analyzed primary source material and used the analysis to support evidence-based arguments. All history is investigation. When history is done well —as it was in these essays – the investigation is true, surprising, and important.” – Dr. Josh Duclos, Form of 1923 Chair in Humanities at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire

A panel of academic leaders selected three network-wide winners from among first-place essays submitted across all participating campuses:

• 1st Place: Ellie Alter, BASIS Independent Manhattan – Keeping the Spirit Alive in the Darkest Hours
• 2nd Place: Zoya Starbird, Wood Acres School – World War II: The White Rose
• 3rd Place: Jane Jin, Stratford School Mission Viejo – Courage During World War II: Irene Sendler

The quality and volume of submissions prompted the expansion of the program. Next year, it continues as the Discover History Challenge, with a broader focus on historical analysis and personal interpretation across different time periods.