Throughout the year in their United States history class with Mrs. Andie Salerno and Mrs. Alice Witt, the students built a bracket with candidates they think could be worthy of the title “Most Courageous American.” They hear stories of men and women who, when faced with difficulties,  overcame challenges with courage and virtue. As they narrow down the list to two final candidates, they open the vote to the whole school, delivering arguments on behalf of both sides to let Oakcrest decide who will be the newest “Most Courageous American.”

This year’s top two candidates for the title of “Most Courageous Americans” are the Flight 93 passengers and the 9/11 Firefighters. The debate was led by the entire eighth grade class. Emaline C. ’28 and Aline T. ’28 delivered the arguments for the Flight 93 passengers and 9/11 firefighters, respectively. 

The Flight 93 passengers were aboard United Airlines Flight 93 flying from Newark to San Francisco on the morning of September 11, 2001 when their plane was hijacked by four terrorists. The passengers, realizing that the hijackers were planning on crashing the plane into a federal government building in Washington, D.C., forced the plane to crash in Pennsylvania. While they prevented the plane from hitting the intended target in D.C., each of the 44 passengers and crew members lost their lives. 

Also on September 11, 2001, 750 members of the New York Fire Department answered the call to respond to the tragic crash of two airplanes and the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings. Three-hundred-forty-three (343) of those firefighters lost their lives on that day. Through their efforts, the 9/11 firefighters evacuated 17,000 people from the towers. 

In an all-school vote, the Flight 93 passengers were named the 2024 Most Courageous Americans. Previous Most Courageous American Contest winners included Desmond Doss, Louis Zamperini, and Mike Murphy.