National History Day Jim Rex Memorial Award

 Jim Rex Memorial Award is for Youth Division Participants honoring hard work, research, and participating in project-based learning opportunities like National History Day AZ.

Jim Rex taught 7th grade American History for 29 years to Arizona students. His love for engaging students to think, get excited about their past and apply evidence to show what they know was something he shared with over 10,000 students during his career. Wanting to encourage historical thinkers this award is for student projects that show passion, knowledge, and historical argumentation.

Those ranked 1st in their project category received awards of $20 each.

Youth Division winners are 4th and 5th graders. They will gain the opportunity to go to Nationals in the Junior Division as 6-8 graders.

The Historical League congratulates all the 2026 NHD Jim Rex winners. Four winners are pictured here.

Individual Website - March of Bread and Roses: A Child's Tale

by Maedini Pandit

Education Team Member Emily Hahn presents to winner

Shreya Khera for her Individual Exhibit - Hello Girls

Group Documentary - Browder v. Gayle: The Four Women Who Fought Back

by Alina Gaines and Natalie Russo

Entries were:

Youth Group Documentary - The Smallpox and the Anti-Vax Leagues in England

Daniel Armijo

Aiden Barnes

Titoluwani Faleye

Youth Group Exhibit - Running Against the World

Ben Bradley

Stephanie Escalante Rodriguez

Jaxon Gonzalez

Youth Group Documentary - Browder v. Gayle: The Four Women Who Fought Back

Alina Gaines

Natalie Russo

Youth Group Website - Banditen! Jewish Partisan Resistance During the Holocaust

Grayden Lily Cohen

Maxwell Martin

Youth Individual Exhibit - Hello Girls

Shreya Khera

Youth Individual Website - March of Bread and Roses: A Child's Tale

Maedini Pandit

Youth Paper - Too Unfit for a Slave?

Carter Cvelbar

Winnie Ruth Judd story with author Laurie Notaro at AZHC Oct 10

 If you’re fascinated by Arizona history, Phoenix stories and true crime,we have two interesting opportunities coming up to explore the story of Winnie Ruth Judd, one of Arizona’s most infamous historical figures.

📚 FIRST UP: BOOK TALK & FILM — OCTOBER 10

Join us on Saturday, October 10, at the Arizona Heritage Center for a special afternoon exploring the Winnie Ruth Judd story.

New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro will discuss her book Murderess: The Hunt for Winnie Ruth Judd and the history behind this infamous Arizona case.

The program will also feature two screenings of filmmaker Scott Coblio’s full-length marionette film, offering a unique artistic interpretation of Winnie’s story.

📽️ Film Screening: 2 PM

📚 Book Talk with Laurie Notaro: 3:45 PM

📽️ Film Screening: 5 PM

📍 Arizona Heritage Center

🎟️ $10

Get tickets for the October 10 event: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/ticketsearchcriteria.aspx?evtinfo=657003~5ac2ccc1-54af-4b64-ae9b-7b0df253cfe3&

Come hear the story, learn more about the history and see this unusual chapter of Arizona history brought to life through both books and film!

🔎 THEN — WINNIE RUTH JUDD TOUR — OCTOBER 17

Want to take the story beyond the book and film?

On Saturday, October 17, you can join a special Winnie Ruth Judd tour and explore the story in a whole different way.

This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn more about the people, places and events connected to one of Phoenix’s most notorious historical cases.

Ed Beauvais, 2017 Arizona Historymaker

 Today we remember Ed Beauvais, who passed away 5 years ago today. Ed Beauvais spent his career in aviation. He founded America West Airlines (AWA) in 1981 and served as the company’s first CEO. By establishing Phoenix as the corporate home and operational hub for AWA, Beauvais contributed significantly to the rapid growth of Phoenix and Sky Harbor Airport.

Ed was also influential in the support for the construction of the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park, and he was also honored as a Historymaker by the HistoricalLeague.org in 2017.

You can listen to him tell his story at https://www.historicalleague.org/historymakers/ed-beauvais.

Seen in this photograph is a mixed medium collage of highlights from AWA created in 1990. Beauvais (right) is shown with Michael J. Conway (left), the first President of AWA, celebrating the success and impact of their accomplishments.

5th Annual Postcard Contest to 3rd graders

 12newsAZ promotes the AHS 3rd grade postcard contest, showing past entries on the news. Details of the contest at Arizona Historical Society website.

Simon Kibe: Al Merito Award Winner 2026 + NHD teacher

 "Congratulations to Simon Kibe, one of the Prestigious Al Merito Award winners at the Arizona Historical Society annual meeting on Sept 25 . He has taught at Cibecue High School for 4 years and has done outstanding work with his Apache students, even getting them involved in National History Day at regionals and state.

FYI - not only is he improving his English, he is learning Apache!" reports Historical League member Norma Jean Coulter.

Simon Kibe and Norma Jean Coulter

Best Guardian of Local History by Phoenix New Times 2026 = Julia Taggart

 Best Guardian of Local History by Phoenix New Times 2026 = Julia Taggart

Growing up, Julia Taggart wasn’t much of a history buff. She aced AP history in high school, then promptly forgot most of it. Becoming a historian or preservationist was never a career goal. Funny how things worked out.

Over the past five years, Taggart has worked tenaciously to protect pieces of Valley history. And she keeps stacking wins.

Her first save came in 2021, when her research for a college documentary on Paradise Valley Mall helped preserve its carousel. She was hooked.

Then came a job as president of the Sunnyslope Historical Society and Museum, where she secured historic designation for the area’s landmark Rock Garden.

Her most visible efforts have involved beloved TV personalities Wallace and Ladmo, whose namesake show entertained generations of Valley kids. Last year, Taggart helped convince the Phoenix City Council to rename a downtown street after the duo.

In April, thanks to her efforts, Phoenix Public Library honored them with a commemorative library card.

This year, she led the effort to get historic status for the Acacia branch of the Phoenix Public Library and helped keep the iconic Mystery Castle away from the wrecking ball.

Historical League is glad to have her as a member!!

Mariamne Moore and Julia Taggart with Arizona Historymakers exhibit in background.

September meeting filled with news, laughter, updates

 Lots to discuss at the September Historical League meeting. It's a time to catch up on news and upcoming events.

And a time for friends to gather together after a summer of no regular meetings.

Although the Arizona Heritage Center is closed for renovations, they have a special room for us to meet.

Congrats to Anthony Fusco 2026 Al Merito Award recipient

 Anthony Fusco posted on facebook, "So excited to share that I’ve been selected as the 2026 Al Merito Award recipient sponsored by the Arizona Historical Society.

Fifty years ago, the Arizona Historical Society established the Al Mérito Award to recognize those who have contributed significantly to preserving and promoting Arizona history. Today, the Arizona Historical Society’s highest honor acknowledges meritorious service for those who preserve and celebrate Arizona history." Congratulations!

Dr. Eric Reiman, Alzheimer's research pioneer announces leadership transition after 38 years at Banner Health.

2025 Arizona Historymaker, Dr. Eric M. Reiman's groundbreaking work transformed Alzheimer's research and positioned Banner as a global leader in detection, prevention studies. 

Banner Health has announced a leadership transition at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, with Eric M. Reiman, MD, stepping down from his role effective Oct. 1 to embark on a new chapter in his professional and personal life. Over his 38-year career, Dr. Reiman helped shape the global fight against Alzheimer's disease. Under his leadership as founding CEO, Banner Alzheimer's Institute became an internationally recognized Center of Excellence, advancing prevention research and fostered landmark public-private partnerships that have brought the field closer than ever to the first approved Alzheimer's prevention therapies.

Honored as 2025 Arizona Historymaker by the Historical League, he tells his story here. https://historicalleague.org/historymakers/eric-m-reiman-m-d/

Sandra Day O'Connor, Arizona Historymaker in 1992

September 1981: Sandra Day O’Connor was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. She became a key swing vote and respected jurist, influencing many significant rulings during her tenure.

The Historical League honored her as Arizona Historymaker 1992 in the inaugural class of Historymakers. Listen to her tell her story at https://historicalleague.org/historym.../sandra-day-oconnor/

Dorothy Zhou and Thanvi Voruganti win Lowell Milken Discovery Unsung Heroes Founders Award

 "I’m thrilled to congratulate Dorothy and Thanvi on winning the Lowell Milken Discovery Unsung Heroes Founders Award. Working alongside these two exceptional young women as they researched and built a project honoring Judith Heumann has been a privilege. Thank you to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, the Milken Family Foundation, and everyone who supported our pursuit to tell meaningful historical stories. Your encouragement empowers students to explore, question, and honor the people who inspire us to build a more inclusive future." from NHD teacher and incredible mentor Stacey Trepanier reports.

The Historical League is a proud supporter of the National History Day program and thrilled to see Dorothy Zhou and Thanvi Voruganti doing so well, and telling the Judith Heumann story.

Dorothy Zhou,  Stacey Trepanier, Thanvi Voruganti

teacher Grant Trepanier, Dorothy Zhou, Thanvi Voruganti, teacher Stacey Trepanier

Jon Kyl 1942-2026, Former Arizona Senator and honored as Historymaker in 2014

With heavy hearts we report that Jon Kyl has passed, September 16, 2026. He was honored by the Historical League as an Arizona Historymaker in 2014. Listen to him tell his story at  https://historicalleague.org/historymakers/jon-kyl/

 

"We know that Jon belonged to all of Arizona, a state he loved and explored with vigor, curiosity and wonder. Serving his state and nation in Congress was a privilege and responsibility he honored and respected. We are grateful for his full and meaningful public life.
We are grateful, too, for his full and meaningful family life, guided by his faith and endowed with honor, warmth and love. We cherish his presence in our lives and are thankful he has joined his beloved Creator, Jesus Christ." The Kyle family

Monetary awards for National History Day Arizona students 2026

Congratulations to all NHDAZ special award winners!

Special Awards 2026

This list entails all of the special awards winners from the NHD State Competition of 2026.

Special awards do not have anything to do with advancing to nationals. Special awards are sponsored by organizations, institutions, or individuals who want to recognize outstanding projects that relate to a specific topic, theme, group, or historical contribution. Each special award includes a monetary prize. Congratulations to all special awards winners!

Best African American History Awards sponsored by the African American Museum of Southern Arizona - $150

1.Junior Paper - Ruby Bridges; A Child Pioneer of Integration

Senior Individual Website - Revolutionizing Education: The Freedom Schools of the Civil Rights Movement by Ethan Tsay

 

AZ Historical Society Award for Equality in History - $150

2.Junior Individual Website - Braille: The Unseen Revolution

3.Senior Group Performance - Chinese Immigration in America

AZ Historical Society Award for Woman’s History - $150

4.Junior Group Documentary - Equality Denied: The Success of the 19th Amendment and Failure of the Equal RIghts Amendment

5.Senior Paper - Sybil Ludington and the Construction of American Patriotism

Best in Western United States History sponsored by the BYU Redd Center - $100

6. Junior Individual Documentary - Not Told Enough History: The Bisbee Deportation of1917

Senior Individual Website - The Delano Grape Boycott: Farmworker Revolution Leading to Reform by Aaron Senthikumar

Weiss Family Historic Places & Spaces Award - $100

Junior Group Website - Built on Speed and Soil; How McDonald's Transformed the Fast Food Industry by Adrish Gande, Owen Yin

Senior Individual Exhibit - Thanks to J.D.C Atkinson, My Language Is Dying by Tanae Lupe

The Roe Family Best Arizona History Entry - $200

7. Junior Individual Exhibit - When the River Turned Red- The Legacy of Camp Grant

8.Senior Group Documentary - Viva Libertad: Revolution Against Spanish Rule

Best Government History sponsored by Stephanie Mann - $50

Senior Paper -“The Endless Frontier”: How Atomic Revolution, Reaction, and Reform Gave Us Our Current System of Public Investment in Science by Ira Parsons

Best Entry for an Arizona Family History or Ethnic History sponsored by the Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board - $100

Senior Individual Exhibit - Thanks to J.D.C Atkinson, My Language Is Dying by Tanae Lupe

Best Use of Archives sponsored by the Arizona Archives Alliance - $150

Sr Group Documentary - Judith Heumann: Trailblazer of the Disability Rights Revolution by Thanvi Voruganti, Dorothy Zhou

9. Jr Documentary - The Bisbee Deportation

Best Use of Oral History sponsored by the Southwest Oral History Association - $100

10. Senior Group Exhibit - Native boarding schools

Diana Smith Award for Excellence - $150

Junior Paper - The Indonesian National Revolution and Its Impact on the World by Aryapadi Hariadi

Senior Paper - “The Endless Frontier”: How Atomic Revolution, Reaction, and Reform Gave Us Our Current System of Public Investment in Science by Ira Parsons

Barbara Lewis Award sponsored by Grant Trepanier - $160

Junior Individual Performance - From Conservatory to Cotton Club by Nathan Davies-Venn

Arizona Story of Arizona Historymaker sponsored by the Historical League - $150

Junior Individual Documentary - The Cool Revolution: How Air Conditioning Reformed The Valley of the Sun into a Habitable Metropolis by Mathew Davies-Venn

Senior Individual Exhibit - Thanks to J.D.C Atkinson, My Language Is Dying by Tanae Lupe

Jim Rex Memorial Award (For Youth Division Participants Only) - $20

Youth Group Documentary - The Smallpox and the Anti-Vax Leagues in England

Youth Group Exhibit - Running Against the World

Youth Group Documentary - Browder v. Gayle: The Four Women Who Fought Back

Youth Group Website - Banditen! Jewish Partisan Resistance During the Holocaust by Graydon Lilly Cohen and Maxwell Martin

Youth Individual Exhibit - Hello Girls

Youth Individual Website - March of Bread and Roses: A Child's Tale

Youth Paper - Too Unfit for a Slave?