Heritage Ohio announced Ahmed Aly as the winner of its 2026 Historic Preservation Month photo contest, selected from more than 20 entries submitted by contestants across Ohio.
Established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and observed each May., the month highlights efforts to recognize and protect historic places across the country.
Heritage Ohio has hosted its photo contest for more than 15 years as part of the observance, challenging participants to capture what historic preservation means to them.
In describing the winning image, Aly said it shows students from the Andrew Jackson Davison Club taking part in a “Cemetery Blitz” at the historic West State Street Cemetery in Athens, Ohio. The students use preservation techniques similar to those practiced at Arlington National Cemetery to clean and restore headstones belonging to early Black residents and veterans in the community.
“The image captures youth actively engaging in historic preservation, cultural education, and community remembrance, demonstrating how preservation keeps local history alive for future generations,” Aly said.
The winning image will appear on the cover of Revitalize Ohio, Heritage Ohio’s quarterly publication, and will also be featured on the organization’s social media platforms.
