National Competition is coming up for National History Day AZ Students

Arizona had 118 projects and 179 students participating at the State level. Of those 179 students, there were 37 students selected to advance to Nationals. With 34 of those students choosing to attend plus 4 teachers we are exciting to follow their journey at University of Maryland College Park.

The Historical League is a proud supporter of this program. 

NHDAZ coordinator Cathy Shumard summed it up in her May 5 report: 

The League gave Stipends to 34 students and 4 teachers progressing to Nationals at University of Maryland on June 8-12, 2025! Much appreciation is being expressed with the $300 travel stipends, $200 exhibit shipping expenses, NHDAZ T-shirts and student decorated straw hats. 

Awards: $150 checks were  awarded to 7 students for telling the best Arizona stories:
- Desert Inferno: Tracing the Lines of Inequality, junior group documentary by Nathan Davies-Venn and Max Luo
- A Toxic Legacy: Uranium Mining on the Navajo Reservation, senior website by Ethan Tsay
- Screams from the Woods: MMIW Rights and Responsibilities, senior group exhibit by Imani Haven and Carmen Thompson
- The Harvey Girls: Pioneers in Petticoats, junior group exhibit by Saanvi Panasa and Zunairah Qasim

Gratitude goes to over 30 Historical League members for participation in National History Day in Arizona: 

Madison Barkley
Margaret Baker
Caroline Bissell
Board of Directors
Summer Cherland
Jolynn Clarke
Norma Jean Coulter
Tobe Daum
Pam den Draak
Pat and Pete Faur
Robin Ferguson
Nina Filippe
Carolyn Hartman
Melissa Johnson
Zona Lorig
Ruth McLeod
Sharron McKinney
Mary Perona
Josie Pete
Kristen Rex
Sharon Scalise
Cathy Shumard
Tom Shumard
Diana and Dave Smith
Katie Tovar
Stacey Trepanier

Competition: Leonard Moody, Arizona Historical Society NHD Coordinator, as well as Emily Hahn will be accompanying students and teachers to Maryland and Washington, D.C.  We eagerly await NHD competition results!

SWAG, SWAG and SWAG for NHD students

What's better than free stuff? T-shirts, zip hoodies, pins, lunch, cowboy hats . . . NHDAZ students have worked very hard and deserve the freebies as they are going to National Competition in Washington, D.C. in June. They will be strutting their new swag at the many gatherings that will take place. 

Thanks to Jennifer and Charles Sands for the lunch and zip hoodies at Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West, another sponsor for NHD. Thanks to the Historical League for sponsoring the NHD program all year providing funding for air travel, transportation for exhibits, special monetary awards for Arizona themes. volunteers at events and judges at competitions. 

Historical League volunteers Pam den Draak, Cathy Shumard,
NHD students Nathan Davies-Venn and Max Luo, Josie Pete, Ruth McLeod, Jolynn Clarke

Just my size!! Thanvi Vorguganti, and Dorothy Zhou

Mai Piel, Thanvi Vorguganti, and Dorothy Zhou are happy to get zip hoodies

Bags filled with swag are gladly received by the students

Historical League President Pam den Draak hands out checks for air travel and exhibit transportation

Cathy Shumard and Pam den Draak hand out checks to Max and Nathan for Arizona themes

Cowboy hats ready for each student to customize

Angel Delgadillo, 2023 Arizona Historymaker in Route 66 Fun Run

 Angel Delgadillo continues to support all things for historic Route 66 and Seligman. Honored as a 2023 Arizona Historymaker, Angel is a young and active 98 year old enjoying flagging cars for the historic Route 66 Fun Run. He and wife Velma have a front row seat to relax.

2025 Arizona Historymaker Sister Adele O'Sullivan throws first pitch at Dback game

 Full of energy, enthusiasm and fun, Sister Adele O'Sullivan is a force!

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Annual Recognition Luncheon at Phoenix Country Club

What a way to celebrate Historical League volunteers at the Annual Recognition Luncheon! Beautiful venue, beautiful day, beautiful program and volunteers with beautiful dedication to all things that are Arizona history including 139,000+ hours of volunteering this year promoting Arizona history and the Arizona Heritage Center programs.

The Historical League has the Annual Meeting every May, announcing the new Board of Directors for the next year and honoring those who have served. We are pleased to have Jolynn Clarke as the new President and these wonderful ladies chairing various committees for 2025-2026. 

Pam den Draak steps down as President, handing over the gavel to Jolynn Clarke for 2025-2026

Thanks to Anne Lupica for arranging Phoenix Country Club as the venue

Drumroll please . . . Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Chris Hackett! This is a new award and well-deserved by Chris. 

Carolyn Mendoza, Delores Tomasek

Vicki Lively, Mary McMahon, Cathy Shumard, Nina Filippi

Mary McMahon, Jan Murray, Linda Fritsch

Susan Dale, Emily Burns

Linda Fritsch, Mary McMahon, Pam den Draak, Jolynn Clarke, Norma Jean Coulter,
Nina Filippi, Anne Lupica

AZHC Education Director Emily Hahn

Pam den Draak, Vicki Lively, Mary McMahon, Lindy Isacksen, Nancy Evans, Nina Filippi

Joyce Bailey, Norma Jean Coulter with AHS Special Events Todd Bailey

Pam den Draak, Jolynn Clarke

2017 Arizona Historymaker Wink Crigler and X Diamond Ranch

 Good News for 2017 Arizona Historymaker Wink Crigler and historic X Diamond Ranch!

"Jineane Ford-King:
Yesterday at 10:45 AM ·
Just got a call from X Diamond Ranch!! They want everyone to know they are all Fine!! Animals are good, just grazing in the meadow!! Fire came very close but it was handled!! Coast is clear for them!! No trailers needed, Thank you!! #blessfirefighters 🥰🙏🙏🙏"
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DuxBU5DCu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Historical League Interview with Wink at https://historicalleague.com/projects/wink-crigler/

Third Grade Postcard contest at Bright Beginnings School in Chandler

 Congrats to Callie and Norah at Bright Beginnings School in Chandler! These ladies shared their party today! The third grade postcard contest encourages Arizona history. These students are having fun learning about Arizona and having pizza and swag!

Exhibits going to National History Day Final Competition in June

 National History Day students have choices of how to present the theme "Rights and Responsibilities". They can design a website, write a paper, do a documentary, act a performance or create an exhibit. Check out these very interesting and elaborate exhibits that NHDAZ students are taking to College Park, University of Maryland in June for final competitions. 

Years ago we learned how expensive it is for students to ship their exhibits. Many could afford to ship them to College Park, Maryland but could not afford to ship them back home to Arizona so . . . they threw them away. How heart-breaking after all that research and work. The Historical League stepped up and now sponsors the transportation of those exhibits with $200 funding.

Postcard winner Skyler James tells us about her artwork

Congrats to Skyler James, the latest 3rd grader to celebrate her win of the Arizona Postcard Contest. Along with her family, her teacher and classroom, they all enjoyed a pizza party and fun swag. We are appreciative of her creative artwork which has been made into postcards and can be found at AHS museums.

Thanks to Dr. Kristen Rex for all her efforts with this wonderful program. The Historical League is a strong supporter! Dr. Rex writes, "If you’ve never been to the Clifton Morenci, Arizona area on the eastern side of the state, you must come check out this quaint town!" 

Elila celebrates winning AHS Third Grade Postcard Contest

 Elila a third grader at Anza Trail K8 in Sahuarita, Arizona celebrated her pizza party on the same day as her teacher‘s birthday because she wanted to have a great big celebration for her favorite teacher! Congrats on winning the AHS Third Grade Postcard Contest.

NHDAZ students wear cowboy hats at Nationals in June

Nothing says Arizona like cowboy hats and that's how National History Day students are more visible at Nationals in June. The Historical League provides funding for many aspects of NHD but the cowboy hats, t-shirts, pins and swag make it more fun and they stand out in the crowds.

This year they were given plain cowboy hats along with red bands, pseudo leather NHD patches, and pins to decorate the hats. Each student makes his/her own unique hats, adding whatever touches they want.

We will see the original designs when they are competing at College Park, University of Maryland in June.

Jolynn Clarke, Josie Pete, Cathy Shumard hand out hats, pins, t-shirts for 2025 NHDAZ students.

Check out 2024 students at National Competition.