American Battlefield Trust Announces Its 2024-2025 Youth Leadership Team

(Washington, D.C.) — The American Battlefield Trust has announced its 2024-2025 Youth Leadership Team, a group of 10 dynamic students ready to bring history to life in their communities while serving as the youth face and voice of the Trust. Over the next year, these young leaders will advocate for historic preservation and education through personalized projects that reflect their passions. By engaging their peers, neighbors and local officials, these students will raise awareness about the importance of preserving our nation’s heritage and promote visits to historic sites. 

“The Trust takes great pride in supporting these emerging leaders as they help champion the cause of history and preservation in their communities and across the nation,” said Trust President David Duncan. “The Youth Leadership Team helps empower the next generation to actively participate to historic preservation efforts.” 

Chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants, participants will embark on a comprehensive training aligned with the organization’s core mission. The training covers a broad spectrum, from the intricacies of land preservation to the principles of place-based education, as well as essential advocacy skills such as engaging with media and petitioning support from public officials. Trust staff will guide and mentor each participant as they develop an individualized capstone project.  

YLT 2024-2025 member, Colby Tuller, 16, from East Calais, Vermont, was drawn to the Trust and the program because of his shared passion for history and preservation. “Just as ordinary Americans fought to create and define our country; it is our duty to preserve these hallowed grounds for current and future generations,” said Tuller. 

The Youth Leadership Team program’s success has caught the attention of the Pipkin Charitable Foundation, leading to a significant grant aimed at amplifying the advocacy efforts that each program member will bring to their communities. The funding has not only expanded the program’s reach but also provided each participant with a stipend to support their projects. 

This year, capstone projects will include developing a historic marker after a Civil War battle, a collaborative one-pager profile on a prominent figure during one of the nation’s formative conflicts, creating a history youth council to promote awareness of history in the state, creating a digital exhibition highlighting the contributions of women during the Revolutionary War and more. 

YLT participant, Eshaam Bhattad, of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, decided to apply to this program as it provided an opportunity to be a part of likeminded students who care deeply about the study of history and preservation. Bhattad will spend the next school year on developing his capstone project, creating an immersive auditory experience that captures the tales of American soldiers during the War of 1812. 

The full roster of the 2024-25 Youth Leadership Team includes: Eshaam Bhattad, 17, of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Hannah Cho, 17, of Irvine, Calif.; Henry Henick, 17, of Washington, D.C.; Austin Ingall, 15, of Temperance, Mich.; Julia Lever, 17, of Madison, Miss.; Marissa Liner, 16, of Avon, N.C.; Abigail Lovins, 16, of Austin, Texas; Harper Quale, 16, of Austin, Texas; Colby Tuller, 16, East Calais, Vt.; Grace Zhou, 16, of New York, N.Y. 

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 58,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 155 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.  

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