RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – A Richmond high school senior is being recognized by the Valentine Museum as the 2026 Young Richmond History Maker Award winner.
Elijah Lee, 18, has gained national attention through features in People Magazine, Scholastic Math Magazine and an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Lee said this local honor means more to him than national recognition.
“To have my own community recognize me, I think this was, to me, a much bigger deal than any other type of recognition that I received on a national basis, because these are my people,” Lee said.
Lee’s advocacy work began when he was around 10 years old. He has organized marches for child abuse awareness, created safe rooms in hospitals, started a nonprofit and now advocates in the Virginia General Assembly…