JUNE 3, 2026 – The National Museum of the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation have announced the winners of the 8th Annual Marine Corps Student Art Competition, which invited students nationwide to explore the theme “Heroes” through original artwork. Winning entries were selected from submissions by students in grades K–12 across the country and will be exhibited at the National Museum of the Marine Corps from June 2026 to June 2027. Award-winning students and their families will be recognized during a ceremony at the Museum on Monday, June 15, at 10 a.m., where the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation will present winners with certificates and cash prizes.
The annual competition encourages students to interpret Marine Corps history, service, sacrifice, and personal heroism through art. Artwork submissions reflected a wide range of subjects, including Marines in combat and humanitarian missions, veterans, military families, service animals, and personal heroes.
The 2026 winners are:
Best in Show
Storm Alho of Woodbridge, Virginia, “I Swore I’d Bring You Home”
K–3rd Grade
1st Place: Emerald Rice of Quantico, Virginia, “SSgt Reckless”
2nd Place: Jaimie Choi of Katy, Texas, “My Brave Navy Dad, My Everyday Hero”
3rd Place: Adrian Stephan of Alexandria, Virginia, “SSgt Reckless Salutes”
Honorable Mention: Aspyn Rice of Quantico, Virginia, “Opha May Johnson”
4th–6th Grade
1st Place: Alex Schadegg of Wylie, Texas, “Defender of the Stripes”
2nd Place: Xioelys Bonilla-Marquez of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, “Honor and Sacrifice Beneath the Flag”
3rd Place: Maddy Peterson of Triangle, Virginia, “Through the Lens of Sergeant Reckless”
Honorable Mention: Hanna Goldberg of Boca Raton, Florida, “Eternal Glory”
7th–9th Grade
1st Place: Sam Zviagilsky of Boca Raton, Florida, “I’ve Got You”
2nd Place: Brooklyn Johnston of Katy, Texas, “Semper Fi”
3rd Place: Addison Hogan of Tiverton, Rhode Island, “Lucca-K458: Three-Legged Hero”
Honorable Mention: Caleb Kolesar of Katy, Texas, “Nameless, Not Forgotten”
10th–12th Grade
1st Place: Keturah Shewcraft of Farmington Hills, Michigan, “Chesty Puller: Man of Courage”
2nd Place: Allison Focht of Lynchburg, Virginia, “Walter C. Monegan (Medal of Honor Recipient)”
3rd Place: Vanvi Nguyen of Manassas, Virginia, “The Reason He’s a Hero”
Honorable Mention: Carter Hogan of Tiverton, Rhode Island, “Every Marine A Hero”
Special Needs K–6th Grade
1st Place: Hannah Gentry of Fredericksburg, Virginia, “Me in the Middle”
2nd Place: Noah Gentry of Fredericksburg, Virginia, “Dad Keeps Me Safe”
Special Needs 7th–12th Grade
1st Place: Maximilliano Angel of Davie, Florida, “Men”
About the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation:
Dedicated to the preservation and promulgation of Marine Corps history, the Foundation was established in 1979 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation supports the historical programs of the Marine Corps. It provides grants for research and the preservation, restoration, and commissioning of Marine Corps art, artifacts, and landmarks. Having secured funding for the construction of the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center, the Foundation’s current mission is to seek support that will strengthen programming at the Museum and beyond its walls. For more information, visit www.MarineHeritage.org.
About the National Museum of the Marine Corps:
The National Museum of the Marine Corps opened in 2006. Its soaring design evokes the WWII image of the flag-raisers on Iwo Jima. Immersive exhibits surround visitors with the artifacts, sights, and sounds of Marines in action. The Museum is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Located at 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA 22172, the Museum is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit www.usmcmuseum.com.