News Release – April 28, 2026
Virginia Municipal League announces winners of 2026 "If I Were Mayor" state essay contest
Tuesday, April 28, 2026/Categories: News Releases
For Immediate Release: April 28, 2026
Contact: Rob Bullington, Director of Communications, rbullington@vml.org
Virginia Municipal League announces winners of 2026 "If I Were Mayor" state essay contest
View/Download a PDF of this press release here >.
The Virginia Municipal League (VML) announced today the statewide winner and seven regional winners of the league’s “If I Were Mayor” Essay Contest for 7th and 8th graders. As in years past, the students were asked to write a short essay in which they identified an issue in their locality, talked to others about possible solutions, and then presented the solution that they believe will best address the issue.
The 2026 winners are:
- Statewide winner: Serene Colden of Lindsay Middle School in the City of Hampton
- Region 1: Kenzley Frye of Northwood Middle School in the Town of Saltville
- Region 2: Hailey Coleman of Martinsville Middle School in the City of Martinsville
- Region 3: Kinley Carter of Lylburn Downing Middle School in the City of Lexington
- Region 4: Elijah Zug of Appomattox Middle School in the Town of Appomattox
- Region 5: Willa Thom of Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School in the City of Falls Church
- Region 7: Alexis Hargrove of Edward W. Wyatt Middle School in the City of Emporia
- Region 8: Finley O'Shell of Isle of Wight Academy in the Town of Windsor
*VML did not receive entries from Region 6 this year.
Read the winning essays here >
Of this year’s winners, VML Executive Director Michelle Gowdy said: “Although they wrote from personal experience and community awareness, this year’s winners were focused on issues like mental health, affordable housing, and access to medical care (just to name a few) that concern Virginians of all ages across the Commonwealth. My heartfelt congratulations to the students who won and thanks to everyone who participated.”
Of statewide winner Serene Colden, VML President and Mayor of the Town of Amherst Dwayne Tuggle noted: “She addresses an issue that affects many localities throughout the country. Serene’s approach to the problem looks at not just how to solve the problem, but how to engage and inform citizens while doing it. Great job, Mayor! Congratulations Selena and to all this year’s winners!”
In addition to a certificate, each regional winner will receive a gift card for $150. The statewide winner will receive a plaque and a gift card for $250. Plans for presentation of the plaques and gift cards are forthcoming.
All winning essays will be featured in the May/June issue of VML’s magazine Virginia Town & City
About VML’s “If I Were Mayor” Essay Contest
The annual “If I were Mayor Contest” invites 7th and 8th graders from throughout Virginia to submit essays describing what they would do if they were mayor of their hometown. The essay contest is a key component of VML’s civic education programming, which seeks to teach school children and adults how local government works and how they can become involved in making their communities better places to live, work and play.
About VML
The Virginia Municipal League is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan association of local governments established in 1905 to improve and assist local governments through legislative advocacy, research, education, and other services. For more information visit www.vml.org.