Three Virginia students were winners in a nationwide contest sponsored by America250, the commission that leads the national celebration of America’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Students in grades 3–12 were asked to submit original writing and artwork in response to the question, “What does America mean to you?” There were 75 winners nationwide, including three in Virginia, identified on the America250 website only as “Aggie J., 4th grade, Roanoke,” “Gloria A., 11th grade, Midlothian” and “Simone H., 11th grade, Haymarket.”
The commission did not respond to requests for information about the winners, but Aggie Jaskula’s father contacted Cardinal News to share her story, and her artwork, which won her a trip to Yellowstone National Park.
We asked her about the artwork and here’s what she sent:
Aggie talks about her winning entry
My name is Aggie Jaskula. I just completed 4th grade at Cave Spring Elementary School.
At the end of February, during our Virginia Studies class, my teacher, Ms. Rebecca Goodman, told us about two competitions: the Expressions of Freedom Contest and America’s Field Trip Contest. In both, students could choose how they wanted to express themselves — through an essay, poem, artwork, or other forms.
The goal of the Expressions of Freedom Contest was to present what freedom means to you. The America’s Field Trip Contest asked the question: “What does America mean to you?” And the 2nd contest — America’s Field Trip Contest reflecting on the question: “What does America mean to you?”
I love painting, drawing, and everything related to art. I was also very inspired by the themes of these contests and the opportunity to express myself creatively. That’s why I decided I would participate in at least one of them.
As I began brainstorming ideas and sketching out concepts, I realized that both themes had a lot in common. The thoughts I had about one applied equally well to the other. Since the deadline for the Expressions of Freedom contest was earlier, I decided to submit that one first. My artwork was recognized and featured in the contest’s press release and digital booklet of awardees (press release and a digital copy of the booklet).
Later, encouraged by the ideas I had developed and my mom’s support, I decided to also enter the America’s Field Trip Contest. After finishing my first piece, my mom told me she really loved my ideas and found them very original. She said my way of thinking was creative and outside-the-box, and that I should use those ideas for the second contest as well. Her words — “Aggie, with ideas like these, you could win that trip!” — boosted my confidence. So I decided to go for it.
I had so many creative ideas spinning in my head that at one point my mom even suggested it might be easier to express them in words by writing an essay. But I knew I preferred to express myself through art.
The most important thoughts that guided my artwork were:
- People — the foundation of America.
- Freedom — represented by the eagle.
- Mountains — which have a deep personal meaning for me.
I love the mountains. I have many fond memories of hiking during the time of COVID-19, when restrictions closed most places for fun and recreation. Hiking in the mountains became part of our daily life. Everything else could be shut down, but no one could close off access to the mountains.
During that time, mountains became a symbol for me — of beauty, strength, freedom, and timelessness.
At school, I learned that a mountain isn’t just the peak we see above ground, but also everything beneath it — its deep foundation. (We even learned that the tallest mountain by total height isn’t measured just from its summit, but from its base.) I see America in the same way. Everything that happened before us is part of its foundation — just like a mountain, it was built by people who made things happen. Important figures like Thomas Jefferson, Neil Armstrong, and Pocahontas, just to name a few, but also countless ordinary people living their everyday lives.
Just as mountains rise from the movement of tectonic plates crashing together, America grew and continues to grow from the efforts of people working together. That’s why in my artwork, I chose to show America as a great mountain — with the American flag flying proudly at the top, and its foundation made up of all the people who helped make America strong. Just like the Constitution says: “We the People.”
I want to thank my family for believing in me and supporting my creativity, and Ms. Goodman from Cave Spring Elementary for letting me know about the contest and encouraging me to submit my work.
The funniest part? We had just found a parking spot for the Metallica concert in Blacksburg when we got the news that I had won first place and the field trip. And the concert turned out to be amazing — May 7, 2025, was definitely one of the best days ever!
Best Regards,
Aggie Jaskula
