Stories of grandparents, neighbors and local history took center stage Monday as Foothills Forum and the Rappahannock News honored 15 student writers during a ceremony at The Washington School in the Town of Washington.

Now in its eighth year, the annual Storytelling Contest invites students to look close to home for inspiration — and this year’s entries did just that. Students from Rappahannock County Public Schools, Wakefield Country Day School (WCDS) and Hearthstone School were challenged to write a true story, in 600 words or fewer, about someone from their grandparents’ generation or older — and reflect on what that story means to them.

The assignment went a step further this year, asking students to think like reporters — conduct interviews, gather quotes and verify details such as names, dates and historical context. The result was a collection of deeply personal, carefully reported stories rooted in family histories and the wider Rappahannock community.

Organizers received about 45 submissions, which were reviewed by a panel of 15 judges. The judges selected first, second and third place winners in three grade groupings — grades 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 — along with honorable mentions in each category, for a total of 15 recognized students.

For the first time, the contest also awarded the Brooks Prize, a $500 honor named for Stephen Brooks, a Foothills Forum emeritus board member who first proposed the competition eight years ago. The prize recognizes the entry that best embodies the goals of strong local journalism — storytelling that is accurate, meaningful and grounded in community.

WCDS 10th grader Brendan Thomas Griffin received the Brooks Prize for his essay, “One Life,” about his great-grandfather who was the victim of a still-unsolved murder in Flint Hill. Griffin’s thorough research, use of sourcing and concise storytelling made him the unanimous winner.

In all, students competed for $3,000 in prize money. Winning entries will be published in the Rappahannock News in print and online, giving young writers the opportunity to see their work reach a wider audience. The Brooks Prize winner will also get a behind-the-scenes look at how a newspaper is produced.

Since its inception, organizers say the contest has aimed to show students the value of local storytelling — and the role journalism plays in preserving it. By focusing on voices from older generations, the project not only builds reporting skills but also captures stories that might otherwise be lost.

7th and 8th grades

1. Miriam Green, WCDS, 8th grade
2. Patrick Kelley, Hearthstone, 8th grade
3. Gillian Ramsey, Hearthstone, 7th grade

Honorable mentions: Farrah Lee Gates, RCES, 7th grade and Cora White, Hearthstone, 8th grade    

9th and 10th grades

1. Emily Diehl, WCDS, 10th gade
2. Brendan Thomas Griffin, WCDS, 10th grade
3. Mia Blank, WCDS, 10th grade

Honorable mentions: Hazel Loveday, WCDS, 10th grade and Madeleine Addeo, WCDS, 10th grade

11th and 12th grades

1. Nona Gregg, RCHS, 12th grade
2. Gabrielle Moreno, RCHS, 12th grade
3. Ruth Jeanne Cossette, RCHS, 12th grade

Honorable mentions: Joel Alejandro Baca Caballero, WCDS, 12th grade and Mahdi Rahimi, WCDS, 12th grade