FORT BEND ISD (December 12, 2025) – Leonetti Elementary fourth grader Aadhinarayan Arun won second place in the Fort Bend County Historical Commission's history essay contest, held annually for all fourth and seventh grade students who reside in Fort Bend County.

He was surprised on campus by members of the Commission who presented him with an oversized $150 check, thanks to donations from “Friends of the Fort Bend County Historical Commission.”

Additionally, Wharton County Junior College history professor Dr. Paul Spellman donated a copy of his book, Old 300: Gone to Texas, to the school’s library in honor of Aadhinarayan.

This year, participating fourth-grade students wrote about Symbols of Freedom and were asked to compare and contrast the history and meaning of a symbol representing either the United States or Texas.

The choices were:

• The Flag of the United States vs. the Flag of the State of Texas

•The Anthem of the United States vs the Anthem of the State of Texas

•The United States Pledge of Allegiance vs. The State of Texas Pledge of Allegiance

Read Aadhinarayan’s winning essay here.