Ten-year-old Leo Hooper loves his country so much that he wrote a song about it – and won a trip to visit an American landmark.
His award-winning song comes as part of America’s Field Trip, a new, nationwide scholastic contest aimed at encouraging students to reflect on what the country means to them.
The contest was organized by America250, a nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
What does America mean to Leo?
“America is where I live with my friends and family,” his lyrics say. “I know that America is good for everyone to see.”
The rising fifth grader at Irving Elementary School learned about the contest through his piano teacher, Ryan Eikmeier, who had been encouraging him to dive deeper into composition. Leo has been playing piano for a little more than two years.
“I really love seeing stuff in America and I thought it would be cool to write a song about it,” Leo said. “I thought it would be cool to try it [the contest].”
Leo composed “America is Where I Live” to showcase his love for traveling across the country and the different landmarks and cool places North America has to offer.
“Every single landmark or place in my song are places I have been,” Leo said, adding that he and his family try to take a road trip once a year.
His favorite landmark has been the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota, said Leo.
According to a news release email announcing the awardees, 150 first and second place awardees hailing from 44 states and territories were selected.
First-place winners were awarded with a field trip experience to one of the nine chosen destinations, which included a tour of the Statue of Liberty in New York, a weekend at the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, a tour and hike at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana, and a candlelight tour at Fort Point at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Leo got to pick his top three and was awarded a trip from those options.
He and his mother, Amber Hooper, will be traveling to New York City to experience the Statue of Liberty for the first time in August.
“I am pretty excited,” Leo said. “I never thought I would see it up close.”
The duo will also be exploring the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Museum and Learning Center and the New York Headquarters of BNY, the country’s oldest bank.
“I am excited to experience that new side of New York City with Leo,” said Amber Hooper. “I am so excited that he picked me to go with. It is just fantastic that he won this, that he worked so hard and that he has a piano teacher who encouraged him to put himself out there.”
The contest will continue in 2025 and 2026. The next opens in September.