Dear Friends,

We are proud to announce the 2025 winners of the Robert Shetterly Portrait Contest. This global competition is open to students and professionals who create and share portraits of their heroes. Artwork submitted featured family members, teachers, community activists and historical change makers, who've shown courage, compassion and creativity in the face of obstacles.

Renowned portrait artist Robert Shetterly, founder of Americans Who Tell the Truth, partners with MY HERO for this special contest and selects the winners. While not all artwork is featured below, you can view all winners and finalists in the MY HERO Gallery.

Winner Adult Painting

Mihre by Meryem Merve

“This is an extraordinarily beautiful painting.

The delicacy of the expression, the grace of the hands,

the colors and textures, all beautiful.” Robert Shetterly

Winner High School Drawing

GertyTheresa Cor by Nara Shen

“I chose this for the economy and rhythm of the lines.” RS

Winner Middle School Painting

Dr. Sylvia Earle by Alison Chan

“Hard to believe this is middle school work. Superior.” RS

Elementary School Drawing

Anne Frank by Cecelia Yu

“I chose this for its immediacy and freshness.” RS

More winning artwork:

High School Painting: Continue by Sara

“Beautiful and touching contrast between the old and young.” RS

High School Mixed Media: For My Dad by Claire Choe

“Really good sensitive drawing made wittily complex by the funny hat.” RS

Elementary School: My Dear Brother by Adrien Chen 

“Complex and imaginative conception. well done.” RS

Print: Bestefar by Emma Welch

“Very strong sense of character, design and color” RS

Middle School Drawing: Courage by Charlie

“Exceptional sense of character and technique.” RS

Middle School Mixed Media: Enchanting by Sophia Chen

“For overall competence, excellent.” RS

MY HERO is grateful to all the artists who share their visions of heroism

with our global learning community in such a meaningful way.

View a short film featuring all of this year's finalists.

We launched MY HERO, in 1995, with a vision to use media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. The website provides a safe venue for people around the world to discover and share stories of diverse heroes from all walks of life.

MY HERO CONTESTS promote creative self-expression, media arts education and literacy. We work to amplify the voices of people making a difference in their communities and beyond. Students, life learners and professionals — writers, artists, musicians and filmmakers — enrich our website with their contributions of new, inspiring stories submitted throughout the year.

The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Poetry Contest is unique in that it is open to poets, artists, filmmakers, and spoken word artists. Click here for contest requirements for various different categories.

The MY HERO: Journalism & Filmmaking Workbook is a comprehensive guide to creating hero-themed films. With step-by-step instructions, and essential resources, the workbook simplifies the process of filmmaking and gives storytellers of all ages an opportunity to be heard.

Media arts educators working in schools, and after-school and summer programs, are invited to download a free digital copy of this workbook. To request your free download of the workbook, email jeanne@myheroproject.org.

The workbook, funded by the Scripps Family Impact Fund, is designed to encourage young people to create short films for the MY HERO International Film Festival and the WOJ Youth Reporter Award, given by esteemed educator and author Esther Wojcicki.

Order your PRINT Copy on Amazon

Order your digital copy through the MY HERO Store

Students submit films for free!

Deadline - September 1, 2025

Submit your short, hero-themed film here



Explore the MY HERO's Teacher's Room for media-rich lesson plans and resources to enhance classroom learning throughout the year.



We need and value your support for The MY HERO Project so we can continue to provide our free educational resources to millions of teachers, students and families around the world.

Help support MY HERO's global learning community.