In honor of West Virginia’s America250 Celebration, students from across the state in grades 8-12 were invited to write letters to America’s founders, reflecting on the past 250 years and imagining what the next 250 years may bring. Here are excerpts from the winning essays:
“As I live in the nation you helped create, I see how the need for freedom led to unity. The United States has developed through expansion, innovation, and redefinition of who its citizens are in “We the People.” At times, that promise was tested, especially during periods when our country was divided, such as during the Civil War. Yet even though there was conflict at times, our foundational beliefs never faded. Over time, voices once oppressed gained freedom, and the meaning of freedom slowly grew….
..Even now, I know that I am only one voice out of billions of people within our world. Yet history has never been made by singular voices alone, but by many voices working together in harmony to achieve the same goal. I will carry my part forward not with certainty, but with hope that what I build, however small or big, will contribute to something that leaves a lasting impact. And perhaps that is what you, the founders, intended all along: not perfection, but a willing desire to make our nation better. Not a finished nation, but an ongoing one.”
-Alyssa Dalton, Monongalia County
In her free time, Alyssa loves giving back by volunteering both within her local community and globally.
Alyssa’s essay will be printed on archival paper and included in the West Virginia section of the official America’s Time Capsule, which will be buried at Independence National Park in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026, and remain sealed until 2276.
“I believe that the future of West Virginia is bright and the future of America even brighter. I believe that in two hundred and fifty years America will remain a global superpower and continue to thrive, especially in technological advances. Not only this, but also, I believe that the state of West Virginia will become more widely known and less stereotyped. I also believe that the state of West Virginia will become an even greater industrial helper. I hope in the future America’s unemployment rate will decrease along with political tensions and divide. In summary, West Virginia’s next two hundred and fifty years will be remembered and the next two hundred and fifty years for the entire country of the United States will have some of the best improvements.”
-Allison Sigman, Putnam County
“Dear Founders, your ideas helped create a strong foundation for the United States, but your work was only the beginning. Over the past 250 years, Americans have worked to improve the country and fix its problems. Your words have guided people, even when they were used to point out what needed to change.
In the next 250 years, the United States will face new challenges, but your ideas will still matter. Democracy requires people to stay involved and work toward fairness. The best way to honor your legacy is not just to remember your work, but to continue building on it. The future of America depends on the people, just as you believed it should.”
-Willa Tatman, Gilmer County
“From landing on the Moon to fighting for civil rights, these milestones reflect a commitment to progress and a belief in what is possible. As we look toward the future, we can carry this same spirit forward, imagining new discoveries and solutions that will define the next 250 years. The journey of the United States is far from over, and the future holds endless opportunities for growth, innovation, and positive change.”
-Audrey Marsh, Raleigh County
“I wonder what went through your head 250 years ago, when you first came up with the idea of a nation: free and equal, where people had rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Jefferson, 1776). You may have thought that your experiment would not have lasted more than a century or faced ridicule for your ideas, but I am here to tell you that it has been thriving for 250 years, and in many ways, it is still growing. You will be surprised to see how much your principles have evolved, but at the core, they are still the very words you put down in ink back in 1776. Our nation has had its ups and downs over the past centuries, but we have fought bravely for what we believe is right, and I am extremely proud of that. Although there have been many sacrifices over these past years, none of them were in vain or without good cause. I hope we can continue to embody these founding principles throughout the incoming years.”
-Rebecca Chen, Monongalia County
“Letter to our Founders.” Goldenseal West Virginia Traditional Life, Spring 2025. https://goldenseal.wvculture.org/letter-to-our-founders/
