Franklin Central High School senior Armaan Ghala has earned national recognition with his essay being selected for publication in the New York Times Upfront Magazine “What 250 Means to Me” contest. His essay will be published on January 5, 2026.
Armaan, a student in Franklin Central teacher Mrs. Lisa Laker’s Dual Credit World Literature course (Vincennes University LITR 221), accepted Mrs. Laker’s challenge to write an essay and enter a national writing contest. While the contest was not a formal assignment, Mrs. Laker encouraged her students to push themselves beyond the classroom.
“This was not an assignment per se,” Laker explained. “I challenged my Dual Credit World Literature students to consider submitting, and Armaan took it upon himself to fully engage with the prompt.”
The submission process required teacher sponsorship, and Mrs. Laker submitted her students’ entries. Within weeks, she was contacted by the staff of New York Times Upfront Magazine to participate in a conference call with their editors.
“We had a phone conference with a New York Times editor where we walked through each part of Armaan’s essay,” Laker said. “They told us this is the same professional process used for any guest writer published by the New York Times. It was an incredible experience.”
That process included editorial revisions and a photoshoot on Franklin Central’s campus with Armaan and his classmates. Shortly after, Armaan learned he was one of the national winners of the New York Times Upfront Magazine’s “America 250” essay contest.
“When I was on the phone with The New York Times, I felt very honored, as it is one of, if not the largest, physical and digital newspaper companies in the country,” Armaan shared.
In his essay, Armaan reflects on the complexity of American history, highlighting both its progress and struggles.
“When writing the essay, I planned to focus only on the positives,” Armaan said. “However, while doing research, I realized there have also been many negatives in American history, and I wanted to highlight those as well. It’s vital to see a society’s pros, but it is the cons that truly define a society.”
He adds that America’s strength lies in its resilience, “America has faced many negatives, but we continue to prevail because we don’t let those define us.”
Mrs. Laker describes Armaan as an exceptionally thoughtful student. “Armaan is an intellectually curious student of world literature. He recognizes themes that transcend time and place, and in this essay, he focuses on the themes of struggle, progress, and the courage of the American people. I am very proud of him and wish him continued success with his writing.”
Mrs. Laker also emphasized the importance of students learning how to apply their writing skills beyond the classroom. “Being able to express yourself in writing is a powerful tool in any career. Writing teaches students how to think critically, analyze historical events, and communicate ideas effectively. Through the stroke of the pen, students can have a positive impact not just at Franklin Central, but across their communities and the world.”
Armaan’s achievement aligns with Franklin Central’s upcoming America 250 celebration, scheduled for January 20–23, featuring special programming, interactive stations, and a keynote presentation by Charles Braun, portraying President Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States.
As Armaan writes in his essay, “The young generation is the one that will inherit the country, the one that will model, and the one who will be the model for others.”
Franklin Central High School is proud to celebrate Armaan Ghala’s accomplishment and looks forward to reading his work in print as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
#IgnitingPurpose #WeAreFlashes
📌 America 250 Event Invitation
Please join Franklin Central High School on Friday, January 23, 2026, in the new Media Center, located off Main Door 1, for our America 250 Program.
Keynote Speaker: President Benjamin Harrison (portrayed by Charles Braun) from the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Welcome Address: 12:50 PM
Arrival: Please arrive early and check in with an ID to receive a visitor’s pass before the 12:36 PM dismissal
Address: 6215 S. Franklin Rd., Main Door 1
This student-led celebration will also feature historical reenactors, including the Statue of Liberty, Sandra Day O’Connor, Benjamin Franklin, and Amelia Earhart.
For questions, please contact Mrs. Lisa Laker at lisa.laker@ftcsc.org.
