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🏅FIRST PLACE:  Washington and his Cherry Trees

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🏅FIRST PLACE:  Washington and his Cherry Trees

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Photographer: Jasper Clayton, Princeton High School Grade 10

Location: Princeton Battle Monument

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: The Battle of Princeton was a pivotal battle during the Revolutionary War and the monument was dedicated by President Harding in June of 1922. The cherry trees help symbolize Washington’s story and add a little bit of humor while encapsulating the celebration of victory.

What it means to me: It makes me feel proud to live here, in a place with so much history. It gives me a constant reminder about the never ending fight for democracy and freedom. Also as an AP US History student, I love being able to connect what I have learned with the place I get to walk around and enjoy everyday.

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🏅SECOND PLACE:  History Has Its Eyes on US

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🏅SECOND PLACE:  History Has Its Eyes on US

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Photographer: Matthew Dodd-Nickles, Princeton High School Grade 9

Location: Princeton Monument Park

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: It's taken at one of the largest rallies in the town's history.

What it means to me: I took this photo from the stage as I volunteered for the event. It was very exciting to see so many people arrive for the rally. This was my favorite sign.

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🏅THIRD PLACE:  The Return of Drumthwacket

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🏅THIRD PLACE:  The Return of Drumthwacket

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Photographer: Brady Goldsmith, Princeton Middle School Grade 6

Location: NJ Governor's Mansion Drumthwacket

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: It's where our state leader has decided to return to the historical governor's mansion.

What it means to me: It means that Princeton holds a special spot for our state's governor and glad to see it being used again.

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Photographer: Evan Hu, Princeton High School Grade 9

Location: Princeton Battle Monument

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: The photo was taken at a historic sculpture park in Princeton, and on the week of the cherry blossoms blossoming, symbolizing growth and renewal.

What it means to me: This photo describes the springtime after a long and cold winter. The calm after the storm kind of thing, and a time for new fun memories to be made.

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Photographer: Flora Tang, Princeton Middle School Grade 6

Location: Princeton University Botanical Garden

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: This topic is important to the civic culture of Princeton, because it represents Princeton's history of cultivating beautiful gardens, and flowers. It is also a photo to honor Beatrix Farrand, who was the university's first consulting landscape architect. She introduced the vines that decorate the walls of Princeton University, and she enjoyed working with flowers.

What it means to me: To me, this photo means the start of spring, because it's one of the first flowers I saw blooming in spring.

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Photographer: Danny Altman, Princeton High School Grade 9

Location: Princeton Cemetery

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: It is part of Princeton history - with Grover Cleveland, Aaron Burr Jr. and more buried here.

What it means to me: Part of the community reminding me how special Princeton is.

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Photographer: Thomas Basso, Princeton High School Grade 11

Location: Shred Fest Event with Sustainable Princeton at Westminster Choir College Parking Lot

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: Beyond simply clearing out storage space, Shred Fest serves as a collective display of our community's dedication to environmental leadership. The picture highlights that our sustainable reputation is driven by the active participation of local volunteers and the Sustainable Princeton staff, rather than mere legislation.

What it means to me: To me, seeing them at the Sustainable Princeton's up-cycling tent represents the advocacy and leadership it takes to tackle the climate crisis at a local level. It’s one thing to have a recycling bin, but it’s another to see a dedicated team teaching us how to keep electronics and batteries out of landfills. This photo shows that in Princeton, sustainability isn’t just a policy—it’s a group effort led by people who care about the future my generation is inheriting.

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Photographer: Michelle Yan, Princeton Charter School Grade 6

Location: Princeton University Chapel

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: The significance of the Princeton University Chapel to the local civic culture can be summarized in two key concepts:

- Rituals: It serves as the primary "stage" for the university’s most solemn milestones. From the Opening Exercises for freshmen to the Baccalaureate service for graduates, the chapel holds the collective emotional memories and shared values of the Princeton community.

- Public Space: It acts as a vital bridge between "Town and Gown" (the university and the local residents). As the posters in your photo suggest, the concerts and artistic events held here are frequently open to the public, making it a cultural hub shared by both citizens and scholars.

What it means to me: In short, it represents the continuity of community. Whether it was 1926 or 2026, people have stood in that exact spot to look at that building, waiting for the same trees to bloom and the same music to begin.

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Photographer: Emma Basso, Princeton Middle School Grade 6

Location: North Harrison Street by Princeton Shopping Center

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: Most roads are just built for cars, but the North Harrison bike lane is different. It’s part of a plan to make sure nobody gets hurt and everyone has a way to get around safely. It’s cool because it helps our town be way more 'green' and less crowded with traffic. Plus, it’s one of the reasons Princeton is known for being such a great place to ride a bike!

What it means to me: I haven't really seen green bike lanes in other places, so when I see them here, it tells me that I’m actually allowed to be on the road. The green paint, the buffer space, and the divider poles make me feel way safer and more protected when I'm out riding my bike.

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**NOTE - Faces were cropped out of this picture by YAC for display purposes only.**

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Princeton Little League Warm-Up **Edited by YAC for display purposes*

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Princeton Little League Warm-Up **Edited by YAC for display purposes*

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Photographer: Erik Shkuda, Princeton Middle School Grade 6

Location: Princeton Little League at Farmview Fields

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: The topic of this photo is important to the civic culture of Princeton because it is showing an event that allows kids to play baseball without having to be too serious. It involves kids, with parent volunteers, and local businesses, and takes place in Princeton parks.

What it means to me: I have been playing in Princeton Little League since I was 5, and am really glad that it is still running and people volunteer to help kids play baseball. Anyone can play in Princeton Little League, so someone like me, who is not serious enough to play on a travel team year round, can still enjoy playing baseball. I am grateful to all the parents who help let me and everyone else in the league to do that.

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Photographer: Arnold Nilov, Princeton Charter School Grade 6

Location: Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: This showcases some of the beauty of Mountain Lakes Preserves, where many go to take a hike on their weekend mornings. This helps Princetonians by improving both their physical and mental health, and bringing them closer to nature.

What it means to me: This photo was taken on one of my family's weekend hikes in Mountain Lakes. We often visit the park with extended family and friends. Mountain Lakes is one of my family's favorite places in Princeton.

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Photographer: Yejoon Na, Princeton High School Grade 9

Location: Herrontown Woods

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: It shows that community life is sustained not only through public events or formal institutions, but also through quiet, shared care. Herrontown Woods is a place where people help maintain a common space together, and that kind of stewardship is an important part of civic culture. It reflects a Princeton where people do not simply enjoy a place, but also take responsibility for it. In that way, the photo suggests that civic life can grow through small, steady acts of care.

What it means to me: I first came to Herrontown Woods because I was interested in the Veblen House and its connection to Einstein. But what moved me most was not history alone. It was seeing people quietly caring for this place together. In some ways, it may not look grand or polished. The objects scattered around are simple, worn, and ordinary, and the work itself is imperfect. But that is exactly what moved me. Seeing these traces of human effort and care affected me more than looking at the garden of any great ruler or emperor. It made me want to take part in it too. This was the moment when I deeply felt a sense of belonging as a citizen of Princeton. When I took this photo, I wanted to capture not only the place itself, but also my own feeling of becoming part of it.

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Photographer: Tegyu Ahn, Princeton Junior School Grade 6

Location: Princeton University campus

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: The Princeton University campus serves as a civic park for Princeton people.

What it means to me: Anything is possible at this empty table.

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Photographer: Yeseong Na, Princeton High School Grade 11

Location: Princeton Battle Monument

Importance to civic culture of Princeton: This photo is important to the civic culture of Princeton because it shows how public life becomes part of everyday life. In a place like Princeton, shared spaces are not just beautiful. They are also places where people come together, pay attention, and express what matters to them. The cherry blossoms make the scene feel peaceful, while the voices in the background remind us that civic culture is active and alive. Together, they show that Princeton is a town where beauty and public engagement can exist in the same moment.

What it means to me: To me, this photo holds a very personal meaning. Cherry blossoms are one of my favorite flowers, and the Princeton Battle Monument is a place I return to every spring because it becomes so beautiful when they bloom. But that day felt different. The blossoms were stunning, and although I chose not to photograph it for privacy reasons, there was a wedding shoot taking place nearby. At the same time, along the street beside it, people were holding signs and raising their voices, and passing cars answered with their horns. Seeing stillness and motion exist together like that—natural beauty beside human expression—left a strong impression on me. When I noticed the child looking toward those two different worlds at once, I wanted to capture that point of view from behind. In a way, that gaze feels like my own. This photo is my way of seeing Princeton, and also a reflection of my love for it.