Youth Leadership Team 2026-2027

My project intends to highlight sacrifices made by French soldiers during the American Revolution, and will honor their fight for the freedoms that we get to enjoy today. Through the use of artwork, I plan to showcase their stories, shedding light on those who were forgotten. Art is a universal language; therefore, it's a fitting method of storytelling, allowing anyone, regardless of language or background, to understand the sacrifices made by the French.

"To me, historic preservation is a way to ensure that our future is less likely to repeat the mistakes in our past, as when we see the places or artifacts up close, we gain a better understanding of the reality of what happened and what those people really went through. Preserving that history is so important for helping younger generations comprehend the severity of our history in a way that nothing else can."

This year, for my capstone project, I will be researching the actions of soldiers’ wives at Cass Depot in Bartow County, Georgia. on June 17, 1862. Through historical research and site documentation, I will develop a preservation and public interpretation plan for this overlooked event, with the goal of pursuing a Georgia Historical Marker and creating a permanent exhibit.

"I'm excited to be part of the Youth Leadership Team because I want to turn my passion and curiosity about the past into something meaningful for my community."

For my capstone project, I will create a digital and in-person public-history exhibition examining how the Civil War, emancipation, and the transition from slavery to freedom shaped Black work and community life in Houston and Texas. I will research overlooked stories of Black soldiers, workers, families, and institutions, using historical records, local archives, and existing preservation sites to connect the history of emancipation to the places and communities that remember it today. The project will make these stories accessible to Houston students and residents through an interactive online exhibition and educational resources.

"I was drawn to working with the Trust because I’ve always been more interested in the people and places behind historical events than just the events themselves. I want to learn how to uncover those smaller stories and give them a place in my community."

This year, I will be creating an Instagram page with posts showcasing lesser-known battlefields in Maryland. My goal in creating this page is to encourage viewers to learn about and even visit these sites.

"I was drawn to working with the Trust due to all of the development on historically significant sites I’ve seen. It is crucial to me that we advocate for the preservation of history; We mustn’t tolerate erasure."

For my capstone project, I will educate young elementary-aged Americans about the importance of America's battlefields and what they represent. Through a combination of engaging classwork, guest speakers, and battlefield visits, my program hopes to help bridge the gap between American history, and the importance of South Carolina. The program hopes to meet 1-2 times a month and have a group trip to a local battlefield for its final meeting.

"To me, historic preservation is a way to serve my country and the people who came before me, specifically my relatives who fought in the American Revolution."

My capstone project will consist of a collection of interviews and stories from professors, archivists, and descendants of soldiers who fought during the War of 1812. I will combine this collection into a digital resource for K-12 students to use in their classrooms while learning about the War of 1812. Eventually, I plan to make this a book to be distributed across schools in Illinois. By learning about the history that embodies our state’s land, I hope students can connect more deeply with their community’s history.

"The American Battlefield Trust’s mission matters to me because they do so much more than preserve land. They inspire generations to connect more deeply with their history and their communities, bringing people closer together and motivating them to advocate for the values that have shaped America for the last 250 years."

For my capstone project, I am organizing my own docent tours of the Battle of Short Hills, along with creating my own podcast so that my visitors, well after their visit, have a keepsake of the rich history of the battlefield. I want to cater my tours to the visually impaired and disadvantaged, so that everyone, regardless of their background or abilities feel a connection to the battlefield. I want to make it my priority to meet everyone at their level and bring together the various perspectives and experiences to help uncover the story of the Battle of Short Hills.

"To me, historic preservation is a way to Preserve the unforgotten stories of our past. It's a reminder that no story is a single narrative, and that every person has a perspective worth listening to. Historic preservation gives us the opportunity to protect not only the places where history happened, but also the diverse experiences and voices that give those places meaning."

This year, I will write a children’s book that shows why American history and preservation matter and educates the next generation about these essential topics. 

"I am excited to participate in Youth Advocacy Day because I believe history belongs to all of us, and I want to help make sure future generations have the opportunity to learn from and experience the places where it happened."

For my capstone project, I will lead a project called “United Stories of the Battlefield: A Cultural Preservation Lab for the Prairie," which would include a youth-led digital preservation studio where students document local monuments, Civil War veterans’ graves, immigrant settlement stories, and community artifacts connected to early American conflicts; and a community symposium highlighting how African American, Native American, immigrant, and frontier communities contributed to and were affected by America’s early wars. 

"I'm excited to be part of this program because I hope to show that preservation is active, inclusive, and essential. I want young people to see themselves as stewards of history who protect the places and stories that define our nation."

For my capstone projects, I'll make sure that visitors can step beyond the battlefield and into the home front through an educational experience at the Faulkner Homestead in Acton, MA. From the day the local militia marched toward Concord, this historic house became a logistics and triage center. Through interactive stations on colonial rationing, signal networks, and 18th-century triage care, visitors of all ages can immerse themselves in the lives of the resilient women and youth who kept the Revolutionary War alive at home.

"I was drawn to working with the American Battlefield Trust because it offers real-world experience in how non-profits can advocate for historic preservation in tandem with modern development and community growth."