FORT SCOTT, KS, (September 16, 2026) – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, has named the winners of its 2026 Discovery Award competition, awarding $24,500 in student prizes along with additional educator and district recognitions. The national competition inspires elementary, middle and high school students to develop research projects that share the stories of unsung heroes whose actions made a powerful impact on history, yet remain largely unknown.
“This year’s National Discovery Award competition drew a record-breaking number of entries, and the exceptional quality of so many projects made judging more difficult than ever,” said LMC CEO Norm Conard. “These students brought curiosity, care and insight to the stories they uncovered. Their work helps us understand the lasting impact of unsung heroes and reminds us that each of us has the potential to make a difference.”
Noah Make, a student at Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is the $6,000 Grand Prize winner for his documentary, Armin T. Wegner Against the Silence. His project tells the story of Armin T. Wegner, who risked his safety to document the Armenian Genocide. Through photographs and eyewitness testimony, Wegner preserved evidence of atrocities that the world might otherwise have forgotten.
Noah’s documentary explores the responsibility of bearing witness and the courage required to speak out when others remain silent. By bringing Wegner’s story to a new generation, the project demonstrates how one person’s determination to expose injustice can preserve the experiences of victims and leave a lasting historical record. It is a powerful reflection of the Discovery Award’s purpose: to uncover overlooked individuals whose actions continue to matter today. Noah was guided by supervising teacher, 2024 LMC Fellow and 2021 Wyoming Milken Educator, Aaron Kruger.
The $3,000 First Place prize has been awarded to Ajuni Dahm of St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, for Virginia Hall: The Limping Lady. Her documentary tells the story of an American spy who overcame discrimination and disability to aid the French Resistance during World War II. The project explores Hall’s courage and resourcefulness in the fight against Nazi occupation, bringing attention to an extraordinary woman whose contributions helped advance the Allied cause. Ajuni was guided by supervising teacher, 2025 LMC Fellow and 2023 ARTEFFECT Ambassador Sandra Hutton.
The $2,500 Outstanding High School Project award goes to Eunhyeok (Joseph) Lee, Minseo (Leon) Chung, Grace Na, Hosan (Harvard) Kim and Ethan Yo of Santa Ana, California. Two of the students, Joseph Lee and Ethan Yo, attend Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA). Project member Harvard Kim attends Crean Lutheran High School, Leon Chung attends Northwood High School, and Grace Na attends Beckman High School. Their documentary, Miné Okubo: The Unsung Hero Who Drew What America Tried to Hide, explores how Okubo used her art to document the injustice of Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Through her illustrations and firsthand experiences, Okubo preserved the stories of those who were incarcerated and ensured that this chapter of American history would not be forgotten. Nancy Alcala of OCSA served as the supervising teacher for this award-winning project.
Anwita Sajja of Jericho Middle School in Jericho, New York, has received the $2,000 Outstanding Middle School Project award for her documentary, Fighting Silent Poison: The Unsung Story of Dr. Herbert Needleman’s Crusade to Expose Childhood Lead Poisoning. The project relates how Needleman’s research exposed the dangers of lead exposure to children. Anwita explores his determination to challenge powerful interests and advance reforms that helped protect children’s health. Anwita was guided by supervising teacher and 2025 ARTEFFECT Ambassador Michelle Vevante.
The $1,500 Outstanding Elementary Project award has been presented to Jaycie Lockmiller and Brianna Garcia of Texico Elementary School in Texico, New Mexico. Their documentary, Olive Ann Beech: The First Lady of Aviation, shares the story of a pioneering businesswoman who helped shape the aviation industry. The students explore how Beech broke barriers for women and helped build Beech Aircraft into a major force in American aviation. Silvia Miranda, a 2019 LMC Fellow and 2018 New Mexico Milken Educator, served as the supervising teacher for this award-winning project.
The $1,500 Founder’s Award goes to Thanvi Voruganti and Dorothy Zhou, representing Arizona College Preparatory High School and Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. Their documentary, The Woman Who Would Not Be Silenced: Judith Heumann, the Unsung Hero of the Disability Rights Revolution, tells the story of a leader whose advocacy helped transform opportunities for people with disabilities. The students explore Heumann’s efforts to challenge discrimination and advance equality, accessibility and civil rights. They were led by a sixth grade teacher at New Vistas Center for Education, Stacey Trepanier.
In addition to these top awards, eight projects have received $500 Certificate of Excellence Awards:
- Elina Lin, Kimberly Chen and Abbie Cheng, Jericho High School, Jericho, New York, for Breaking Barriers: The Life of Leonora O’Reilly. (Teacher Justina Zendrian)
- Kaitlyn Chun and Isabelle Deon, Jericho High School, Jericho, New York, for Tony Mazzocchi: An Unsung Hero Who Pioneered Workplace Safety Reform. (Teacher Justina Zendrian)
- Shaeyllan Beardmore, Danrich Botha and Serafim Spekhalskiy, Kelowna Secondary School, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, for Iris Chang: Remembering the Forgotten Holocaust of WWII. (Teacher Graeme Stacey)
- Ara Woo and Chloe Hu, Jericho High School, Jericho, New York, for An Unsung Hero in Cross-Racial Solidarity: Grace Lee Boggs’ Role in Civil Rights Activism. (Teacher Justina Zendrian)
- Bella Antone, Charlee Wells and Hadley Wells, Christian Learning Center, Fort Scott, Kansas, for Bridging Two Cultures: A Crusader that Revolutionized Navajo Health Care with Lasting Reform, about Annie Dodge Wauneka. (Teacher Rachel Wells)
- Emma Chan, Jericho Middle School, Jericho, New York, for The Invisible Hand of Justice: Frances Perkins, The Unsung Architect of Modern America. (Teachers Theresa Cantwell and Valerie Conklin)
- Saketh Chatrathi, Viraj Devgun and Shruti Sundar, Charles B. Pearson Middle School, Frisco, Texas, for The Uncelebrated Miracle Medicines Alien, about Dr. Yellapragada Subbarow. (Teacher Christopher Barker)
- Angel Shah, Jericho High School, Jericho, New York, for a performance about Judy Heumann and the Section 504 Sit-In, A Revolution for Access. (Teacher Justina Zendrian)
LMC also recognizes the educators and schools that support students in discovering and sharing these important stories. Aaron Kruger of Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming, receives the $1,000 Outstanding Educator Award, and Jericho Middle and High School in Jericho, New York, receives the Outstanding School Award. There was a tie this year for Outstanding School Award Second Place between Newton High School in Newton, Kansas, and Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Four $500 Outstanding Teacher Awards recognize Brian Skinner and Kynda Faythe of Newton High School in Newton, Kansas; Justina Zendrian of Jericho High School in Jericho, New York; Chris Dier of Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Rachel Wells of Christian Learning Center in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Through the Discovery Award, students use research and creative storytelling to explore the lasting impact of an individual’s actions. By bringing overlooked stories to new audiences, their projects demonstrate how courage, compassion and determination can inspire positive change across generations.
“Real heroes tower and guide,” said LMC Founder Lowell Milken. “But their stories need to be discovered and heard. And when we do, we have the opportunity to motivate new generations to aspire to values that are essential during the challenging times we face individually, as a nation and as a world community.”
Information about the Discovery Award and future competition opportunities is available at lowellmilkencenter.org/competitions/discovery-award.
About LMC
Established in 2007, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes discovers, develops and communicates the stories of unsung heroes who have made a profound and positive impact on history, yet are largely unrecognized by contemporary generations. Through student projects and the sharing of these stories, LMC helps new generations recognize their own potential to make a difference. Learn more about LMC and the Discovery Award.
