The Liberty County Historical Commission in October honored local junior high students with “Youth History Awards” for outstanding essays on topics of local historical significance. The awards program, open to all Liberty County school districts, invited 7th-grade Texas history students to choose a local historical topic, research its significance, and submit a photograph or facsimile along with a short essay documenting the subject’s importance in the community. Essays also required research source documentation.
Three area school districts participated in the contest, and the winners are as follows:
Dayton ISD, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High School
- First Place – Cambri Hulsart: Mayhaw Festival
- Second Place – Santiago Herrera: Heroic Teens
- Third Place – Mia Hernandez: Trinity River Flood
Cleveland ISD, Santa Fe Middle School
- First Place – Kenya Cornett: Spirit of Sharing
- Second Place – Abder Aguilar: Liberty Municipal Park
- Third Place – Cesar Hernandez: Cleveland Memorial Cemetery
Hardin ISD, Hardin Middle School
- First Place – Allee Hill: The Old Kirby Timber Mill
- Second Place – Emily Gamboa: Maci Feed and Supply
- Third Place – Landon Southerland: Liberty County Oak Tree
First-place winners each received $100, second-place winners $75, and third-place winners $50. A grand prize of $500, awarded for the best overall submission, went to Cambri Hulsart from Dayton ISD’s Woodrow Wilson Junior High. This award, presented to Hulsart’s history teacher Shelby Gann, is designated for use on special history projects, supplies, field trips, or other educational purposes benefiting 7th-grade history students at Woodrow Wilson Junior High.
The Liberty County Historical Commission collaborates with the Texas Historical Commission to preserve the county’s history. Their work includes placing historical markers, organizing historical tours, preserving cemeteries, and offering educational programs and lectures. The commission is particularly interested in engaging the youth of Liberty county through various contests and programs during the year.
For more information on the Liberty County Historical Commission or to schedule an appointment, contact Linda Jamison, County Chair, at lchc318@gmail.com or text 936-334-5813. The commission’s meetings are open to the public.