PIERRE — Three South Dakota fourth graders have been named winners of the South Dakota State Historical Society Historical Preservation Office’s annual Fourth Grade Student Essay Contest.

The South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office recently hosted its annual “This Place Matters” Fourth Grade Student Essay Contest, which is a component of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month.

In early 2025, fourth graders from across South Dakota were asked to write an essay on a place in South Dakota that is at least 50 years old and describe why it matters, what it means to them, and why it should be preserved. Essays were judged on quality of writing, content and theme, and originality of thought. The State Historic Preservation Office received 207 essays this year from 23 different schools across the state.

Ava Ireland from Kadoka Area Elementary won first place for her essay titled “Triangle Ranch;” Tiana Suurmeier from Scotland Elementary won second place for her essay titled “Zion Lutheran: A Home for Worship, Learning, and Inspiration;” and Jackson Lee from Camelot Intermediate School in Brookings won third place for his essay titled “Brown Hall SDSU.”

All three essays can be read here.