Jonathan Lenahan of Ocean, a freshman at Ocean Township High School, receives his first-place award from Monmouth Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon at the 30th annual Archives & History Day event held at Brookdale Community College on October 11, 2025
(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has announced the winners of the Monmouth County Clerk's annual High School Photography Contest for 2025. The theme of this year's contest was "Revolutionary Monmouth County," challenging students to capture of Monmouth County's many historical sites relevant to the era of the American Revolution.
“The theme of this year’s contest, Revolutionary Monmouth County, was particularly significant as we approach America’s 250th birthday,” said Clerk Hanlon. Our student photographers did an excellent job helping to preserve Monmouth County history as part of our Semiquincentennial celebration.”
First place went to Jonathan Lenahan of Ocean, Ocean Township High School freshman for the photo of Sandy Hook Lighthouse shown here
Second place went to Lily Dooling of Sea Girt, St. Rose High School sophomore
Third place went to Julia Portaro of Howell, Howell High School senior
Honorable mention went to Nolan Webb of Atlantic Highlands, Ranney School junior
The winning photographs as well as photos of each winner receiving his or her award from Clerk Hanlon can be downloaded from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Flickr page. All high school students residing in Monmouth County and/or attending a school in Monmouth County were invited to enter by submitting an original color or black-and-white photograph capturing one of the many locations throughout Monmouth County significant to the time period of the American Revolution. Click here to view or download complete contest rules and eligibility information.
Clerk Hanlon presented the winners with their certificates and prizes during the awards program of this year’s Archives & History Day on October 11, 2025 at the Robert J. Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. The event drew hundreds of attendees and more than 50 historical organizations participating as exhibitors. Each year, a catalog of the featured exhibit is also published and made available to all attendees and are available for download from their website. This year’s featured exhibit and catalog was titled, “Conflicting Allegiances: Loyalists & Patriots in Revolutionary Monmouth County.”
Second Place - Lily Dooling with Monmouth Battlefield
Third Place - Julia Portaro with Little Wooden Bridge, Monmouth Battlefield
Honorable Mention - Nolan Webb
The Monmouth County Archives, which operates under the direction of the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, preserves, organizes and provides access to Monmouth County government records of enduring historic value that are retained on a permanent basis. Located in the lower level of the Monmouth County Library’s headquarters in Manalapan, the Monmouth County Archives is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
The Office of the Monmouth County Clerk is comprised of five divisions handling property recordings, elections, archives, passports and records management. The County Clerk’s Office also provides resident, veteran and Gold Star Family identification cards to eligible county residents, administers oaths to notaries and public officials and performs wedding ceremonies. The Monmouth County Clerk is a constitutional and administrative officer elected to a five- year term by the voters of Monmouth County. Christine Giordano Hanlon, Esq. was elected Monmouth County Clerk in November 2015 and was re-elected to a second term in November 2020.
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