Project POTUS announced its 2025 middle‑school winners on Tuesday in Indianapolis, highlighting creative short videos that explore the lives of U.S. presidents.
Grand Prize Winner Announced
Sixth‑grader Peter Gestwicki of Muncie, Indiana earned the top honor for a 60‑second piece on Theodore Roosevelt. The clip was, in a word, quirky, and it secured a $500 award from the competition’s Grand Jury.
Spotlight Awards Recognized
Four eighth‑grade participants received $400 prizes for their portrayals of past commanders‑in‑chief. Grace Whitworth of St. Richard’s Episcopal School captured Thomas Jefferson’s legacy, while Izzy Abraham from Sycamore School focused on Calvin Coolidge. Clara Haley, also of St. Richards, highlighted George W. Bush, and the duo Delaney Guy and Nora Steinhauser from Cooperative Middle School presented James Polk.
- Grace Whitworth – Thomas Jefferson
- Izzy Abraham – Calvin Coolidge
- Clara Haley – George W. Bush
- Delaney Guy & Nora Steinhauser – James Polk
Beyond the spotlight, thirty‑seven additional entrants earned $100 recognitions in their respective presidential categories, each submitting a brief visual narrative that met the program’s research standards.
The initiative, run by the former residence of the 23rd commander‑in‑chief, invites middle‑schoolers to blend historical inquiry with digital storytelling. Participants must condense their findings into a minute‑long format that is both accurate and entertaining, a task that challenges typical classroom assignments.
For students, the experience offers a tangible way to engage with national history beyond textbooks. By translating research into a visual medium, they develop presentation skills while gaining confidence in public discourse, an advantage that may extend into future academic projects.
Future Competition Details
The next round opens on Election Day, November 4, 2025, with a submission deadline of Presidents Day, February 16, 2026. Interested schools can find entry guidelines on the program’s website.
Funding for the venture comes from the benefaction of Russell & Penny Fortune, whose support enables the prize structure and production resources.
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The hosting organization, a restored Italianate landmark in downtown Indianapolis, commemorates Indiana’s sole president while offering tours, educational events, and cultural programs that draw thousands of visitors each year.
A Citizen Jury of nearly one hundred volunteers evaluated every qualifying entry, applying the competition’s criteria for historical accuracy, creativity, and entertainment value before announcing the winners.
Nationally, the United States has counted nearly half a billion citizens since its founding, and among those, more than twelve thousand have served in the legislative branch, while one hundred fifteen have held seats on the Supreme Court. Only forty‑five individuals have ever occupied the nation’s highest office, showing the rarity of the role that Project POTUS seeks to illuminate for young learners.
The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, the historic home of the twenty‑third president, celebrated its 150th anniversary this year. The 10,000‑square‑foot Italianate residence has been meticulously restored through a six‑million‑dollar campaign, resulting in a space that now houses close to eleven thousand artifacts spanning over two centuries of American and presidential history.
Architectural Digest listed the house among the “Top 5 Stately Presidential Homes You Can Visit,” and TripAdvisor consistently ranks it as a top attraction in Indianapolis, reflecting both its architectural significance and its popularity with the public.
Beyond Project POTUS, the site’s signature programs include Future Presidents of America, Candlelight Theatre, the Juneteenth Foodways Festival, Wicket World of Croquet, and Off the Record, each designed to deepen community engagement with the nation’s democratic heritage.
Established in 1966 as a private 501(c)(3) organization, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site operates without direct federal funding, relying instead on private philanthropy and earned revenue to sustain its mission of increasing public participation in American self‑government through the arts, culture, and the life stories of a president.
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