Meet the 26-year-old Julia Taggard preserving the Wallace and Ladmo Legacy

 Congrats to Historical League member Julia Taggart making news again with Wallace & Ladmo revival. Check out Arizona Republic May 10 issue, page B01.

Fun Fact: The Historical League honored them in 1992 as Arizona Historymakers.

Want to hear their story? https://historicalleague.org/.../patrick-john-mcmahon.../

Dr. Breeckner and Vince Bradley report at May Meeting

 Thanks to reports from Executive Director Dr. Breeckner and Deputy Assistant Director Vince Bradley, we always learn a lot about the happenings at Arizona Heritage Center at our monthly Historical League meetings. We are grateful they take the time from their busy days to keep us informed.

Dr. Breeckner answers questions from Historical League members

Vince explains the exciting topics of AHS virtual programming. May 16: A Black Army.

May 20: Route 66. June 10: Sandra Day O’Connor. Details at www.ArizonaHistoricalSociety.org

Dr. Breeckner talks about upgrades to AZHC including new seats for the Steele Auditorium

Arizona Historical Society sponsors 3rd grade Postcard contest

 Arizona Historical Society sponsored a 3rd grade Postcard contest again. With over 1000 participants, there were 14 winners. Below are three of them celebrating with their classmates. The Historical League is pleased to support this program.

Dr. Rex writes, "I am pleased to have hosted the inaugural Arizona Historical Society third-grade postcard contest pizza party at Gladden Farms Elementary School in Marana, Arizona, and I look forward to 13 more such events. Congrats Emmalyn Bourguet!"

Kudos to AHS Dr. Kristen Rex who has traveled around AZ celebrating the winners. Students are excited to be recognized, share a pizza party with family and classmates, have their art made into postcards for sale at AHS museums, and receive lots of SWAG!

Coronado Elementary student Kase Nelson was a winner!

Gowan Science Academy 3rd grader, Waylon Bedoya, celebrated his winning postcard!

Historical League volunteers at Mentoring Session May 2 for NHDAZ

Excitement in the air as National History Day AZ students checked in Sat., May 2 for mentoring, swag, details of Wash.D.C. trip, critiques, friendships.

Some final changes to their project then off they go in June to the National contest at University of Maryland, College Park. Thirty eight students will compete with 3 teachers and 4 AHS staff to guide them through their journey.

Historical League members showed up to volunteer, mentor and give support to these amazing young people: Jolynn Clarke, Chris Hackett, Cathy Shumard, Ruth McLeod, Diana and David Smith, Norma Jean Coulter, Pat and Pete Faur, Laurie-Sue Retts, Stacey Trepanier.

Thanks to the AHS team for organizing this event. L- R Holly Barnard, Emily Hahn, 
Taylor Kyle, Dr. Kristen Rex, Leonard Moody 

Cathy Shumard and Leonard Moody are excited about the new NHDAZ t-shirts

Chris Hackett, Jolynn Clarke, Cathy Shumard check in students, handing out reimbursement checks helping to subsidize travel to Washington, D.C.

NHDAZ student Mai Piel visits with teacher, mentor extraordinaire,
Historical League member Stacey Trepanier

Ruth McLeod is impressed by the very detailed hat bands AHS Holly Barnard sewed

David and Diana Smith share a story with Jolynn Clarke

Chris Hackett, Cathy Shumard, Ruth McLeod, Jolynn Clarke,
Laurie-Sue Retts with two friends

Leonard Moody, Pete and Pat Faur, Jolynn Clarke

Congratulations to Jeron Velasco nominee for Arizona Teacher of the Year.

Fifteen educators are up for a prestigious award, where one will be named the newest recipient for Arizona Teacher of the Year.

The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) recently announced the top 15 candidates for the 2027 Arizona Teacher of the Year award, honoring the educators who are shaping the future of schools and students. Selected from a pool of 155 nominated teachers statewide, the Historical League is grateful to have nominee Jeron Brown Velasco as a National History Day teacher. 

Jeron Velasco is an award-winning educator, researcher, and author dedicated to empowering Indigenous youth through culturally responsive teaching, community-based learning, and storytelling. Currently teaching at Dishchii’bikoh Community School in Cibecue, Arizona, he brings over twelve years of teaching experience across the Philippines and the United States. He holds a Master of Arts in Education majoring in Social Studies and has also earned a Master of Arts in Special Education. He is currently a PhD candidate in Social Studies, further deepening his expertise in the field and his commitment to advancing educational practice and research.

Under his mentorship, students have earned top honors at National History Day Arizona, advancing to the national competition in Maryland and bringing recognition to their community through powerful, research-driven projects centered on Indigenous history and identity.

Passionate about preserving history through student voice and community engagement, Mr. Velasco founded the Dishchii’bikoh History Club and led the creation of the Heroes of Cibecue book series—an innovative collection of student-produced children’s books, coloring books, and cinematic audio stories in both English and Apache that honor the lives and legacies of White Mountain Apache veterans. His work transforms students into historians, authors, and cultural ambassadors.

Mr. Velasco’s visionary leadership has earned him numerous prestigious recognitions, including the 2025 Arizona History Teacher of the Year (Gilder Lehrman Institute), Pulitzer Center Teacher Fellow, C-SPAN National Teacher Fellow, the John J. Ross Memorial Award, the Al Mérito Award from the Arizona Historical Society, and the Christa McAuliffe “Reach for the Stars” Award. Most notably, he was named the 2026 National Smart/Maher VFW Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars—one of the highest national honors recognizing excellence in promoting civic responsibility and patriotism in education.

In addition to his classroom and research achievements, Mr. Velasco serves as a selected member of the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Advisory Board for Exceptional Children, contributing his expertise to support policies and programs that advance the education of Indigenous students with diverse learning needs.

Through his unwavering dedication to education, culture, and civic engagement, Mr. Velasco continues to inspire young people to honor their heritage, amplify their voices, and become transformative leaders in their communities.

Angel Delgadillo and 100th birthday of Route 66

 Historical League member Norma Jean Coulter reports, "Yesterday Diana, Dave Smith and I journeyed to Seligman for their 100th birthday of Route 66.  Of course Angel Delgadillo was the star of the show since he worked to get Historic Route 66 established."

Norma Jean Coulter enjoys the event with
2023 Arizona Historymaker Angel Delgadillo and wife Vilma

Diana Smith tells about the trip, "Dave and NJ enjoy a tasty Seligman Breakfast at the Road Kill Cafe -- complete with biscuits and gravy to accompany the eggs and bacon -- Happy Weekend. Great day, sun and sunshine with plenty of smiles all around. Vilma and Angel were the perfect honorees."

2025 Arizona Historymaker Bob Boze Bell as M.C.

Diana updates, "Bob Boze Bell welcomed the crowd and told wonderful stories about his family and family's life on Route 66.

Robert Ballard and his wife Marilyn from Kingman met us in Seligman -- Robert serves on the AHS Campaign Committee and is a board member of the AHS chapter."

Congrats to Donna Gustafson, NHDAZ Teacher of the Year nominee, junior division.

Donna Gustafson has the best background to bring to her students! 

National History Day AZ is so fortunate to have her! No wonder she is a nominee for Junior Division NHDAZ Teacher of the Year. 

Donna Gustafson is a 7th and 8th-grade gifted Social Studies teacher in Chandler, Arizona, with 23 years of experience in education. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arizona in Elementary Education with a minor in German, including time spent studying at the University of Bamberg in Germany. Donna continued her academic pursuits by completing a Master’s Degree in World War II Studies from Arizona State University in conjunction with the World War II Museum in New Orleans. She is also a Holocaust in Southeastern Europe Fellow at Harvard University and an author for NHD's Silent Heroes Program. 

As the wife of a naval officer, Donna has a firsthand appreciation for the sacrifices of service members and a deep interest in military history. This unique perspective, combined with her expertise in curriculum development, drives her passion for fostering critical thinking and a truthful understanding of history among her students. She is dedicated to preparing young scholars to become informed and engaged citizens ready to make their mark on the world. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to Savannah to visit her now-senior child at the Savannah College of Art and Design, taking her service dog on long walks, riding her bike that goes nowhere, and cheering on her favorite basketball and football teams.

Cathy Shumard, Donna

Donna, Ruth McLeod

Donna mentored at the May 2 NHDAZ event at Spirit of the West bringing her very friendly and helpful support dog.