ALPHA OMEGA COUNCIL and 26.2 FOUNDATION
in concert with the
Greek Consulate of Boston and The Examined Life
Cordially invite you to the
2026 Marathon
Essay Awards Ceremony
Recognizing exceptional essays of
Middle School students
Thursday, June 4, 2026
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Hopkinton Center for the Arts
98 Hayden Rowe St, Hopkinton, MA 01748
Essay Prompts
Seventh Grade Prompt:
It is the year 490 B.C.E. and the Persians are going to invade mainland Greece. The government of Athens has made the decision to send their military to the plains of Marathon to meet the Persian army. As 11,000 Greeks gather on the hills overlooking Marathon, Persian ships are landing on the shores. You soon realize that you are outnumbered 2 to 1.
With maximum of 500 words, write a well-developed essay explaining why an Athenian citizen would join fellow Athenians on the plains of Marathon to defend their homeland.
Eighth Grade Prompt:
There are many contributions that the ancient Greeks left for posterity. From philosophy to drama, architecture, and medicine, their gifts are numerous, but there is one that is unique to Athens: democracy.
Given your knowledge of current and ancient democracies, write an essay of 700 words or less, that highlights the connection between the direct democracy of ancient Athens and the republic that we have today in the United States of America.
Alpha Omega Council-26.2 Foundation
Marathon Education Program 2026
Why does the Marathon Race endure as a cultural event 2,500 years after the Battle of Marathon?
Alpha Omega Council and the 26.2 Foundation provide a fully funded initiative for middle school students to take an educational odyssey that explores this question.
The goal is to illuminate the role of the Battle of Marathon in preserving the emerging Athenian democracy and civilization and connecting that historical event and the concept of the marathon run to the citizen soldier in the birth of America, and the role, duties, and opportunities for civic participation today.
There are three pillars to the Marathon Education Program
Essay Contest and Award Ceremony
Seventh Grade essays shall explain: Why would a citizen join fellow Athenians on the plains of Marathon to defend their homeland?
Eighth grade essays shall explain: What is the connection between the direct democracy of ancient Athens and the republic that we have today in the United States of America?
- “The Examined Life” educators will review all essays and select winning essays
- Marathon Essay Awards Ceremony will recognize the exceptional essays from your school’s
seventh and eighth grade winners. Families are invited to attend. - There will be an introduction of student award winners
- There will be a presentation of Marathon Wreath plaques and citations by the Honorable Consul
General of Greece in Boston, Symeon Tegos.
Museum of Fine Arts of Boston Distance Learning Program
Examine ancient art depicting activities of work and play to see what these objects reveal about daily life in ancient Greece. Students look closely and make inferences about the everyday activities these artworks portray—many of which are still familiar today.
Your class will participate in a 45-minute interactive videoconference, via zoom, with an MFA educator to explore the Art of Ancient Greece. This program is taught live from the MFA galleries, giving students the opportunity to see original works of art while also digging deeper through additional digital content.
In-Person College Lectures
We are pleased to provide in-person guest lecturers from Boston University, Emmanuel College, Harvard University, and Hellenic College/Holy Cross. Each School is free to arrange for multiple lecturers/topics. The lectures will take place at your school.
Topics include:
- Women’s athletics in Ancient Greece.
- Olympic winners, ancient and modern.
- Athletes and heroes in Ancient Greece.
- Who fought at Marathon and Salamis? Citizens and soldiers in Ancient Greece.
- From Marathon to Boston: Self Sacrifice as the Essence of Democracy.
- Is democracy possible without civic engagement?
