Silent Heroes

Excellent Program.

 

Thank you from Ruhi Rane NHDAZ student

Dear NHD AZ team,

 

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of your support throughout my National History Day journey. It meant so much to me to have your encouragement and guidance as I worked on my project and had the opportunity to represent our state at Nationals.

 

Going to Nationals was an incredible experience that I will always cherish and remember. I learned so much, not just about history and research, but also about presenting my work, meeting students from around the country, and challenging myself to do my best. None of this would have been possible without the support of the state team.

 

Thank you for all the time, effort, and care you put into helping students like me succeed. I am truly grateful for everything you do.

 

Thank you again!

Sincerely,  Ruhi Rane 

Where was Ruhi Rane at award ceremonies? She gave an award-winning performance and received the Special Award in category Latino American History. Then NHD teacher Stacey Trepanier accepted her award.

Ruhi was off on another adventure . . . Speech and Debate Conference, Richmond, Virginia. One busy and talented girl!!

Title of her performance "Voices of the Vineyards: El Teatro Campesino and the Rise of the Farm Workers Movement".

Lattie F. Coor Jr. 1936-2026, 2014 Arizona Historymaker

 It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Lattie F. Coor Jr. on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at age 89.

Honored as 2014 Arizona Historymaker, Lattie was the 15th president of Arizona State University whose tenure achieved major milestones for ASU as a research institution.

His successor ASU President Michael M. Crow (2023 Arizona Historymaker) commented, “ASU would not be the institution it is today without Lattie Coor’s vision, leadership and commitment to the community.”

Listen to Lattie talk about his life story at https://historicalleague.org/historymakers/lattie-finch-coor-jr/

Thank you from Ziv Shemen NHDAZ student

 Dear Arizona Historical League,

One of the biggest things National History Day taught me is that history isn’t just something you read in a textbook, it’s something that helps explain the world we live in today. Researching the atomic bomb showed me how a single scientific breakthrough can change the course of history and continue to influence global events decades later. 

Representing Arizona at the National History Day Contest with my teammate, Grahm Harding, and being awarded Arizona’s Junior Division Outstanding Entry was an unforgettable experience. (Ziv and Grahm had a State award-winning junior group website The Nuclear Chain Reaction: The Explosive Discovery That Changed the World. The Historical League is proud to support NHDAZ.)

Beyond the competition, I had the opportunity to tour the U.S. Capitol, meet Arizona U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, and connect with students from around the world who share a passion for history. 

I’m incredibly thankful to the Historical League and the Arizona Historical Society for making these opportunities possible and for inspiring me to keep learning, asking questions, and sharing history with others.

Best,

Ziv Shemen

Grahm Harding and Ziv Shemen wearing their award ribbons
with NHDAZ co-ordinator Leonard Moody.

Ziv meeting Senator Mark Kelly and his staff

SanTan history teacher Donna Gustafson and NHD Silent Heroes Program

 National History Day teacher is amazing! The Historical League is proud to support Donna and her NHD program!!

Air Force Technical Sergeant Thomas J. Walker was recently married and had a month-old child waiting for him at home when his plane was struck and started going down in France in 1943.
All the service members in the plane bailed out. All but one of them were captured by Germans and sent to a prisoners of war camp. No one knew what happened to Walker from Arizona.
82 years later, a Chandler teacher has solved that mystery.


Donna Gustafson, who teaches history at Santan Junior High School, was one of 61 educators from 31 states and an international school chosen to be part of the Silent Heroes program run by National History Day.
Each educator got to choose one U.S. military service person from one of four wars and research their lives.
“I just think this is important to do,” Gustafson said. “I think for the families it’s important, and I think that he would have told his story if he could. I’m a Navy wife … I know how important it is for us to do these things.”
Gustafson said she was given a cemetery in France with the names of service members from Arizona and asked to choose one.
“They gave us a list of 18 to 20 people we could research, and I did a preliminary research on the men that were buried there,” Gustafson said. “Thomas was the one who really stuck out to me. … They couldn’t find him when he bailed out.

I did a lot of research, this is very interesting, I wonder why they can’t find him.”
Walker’s body is not in that cemetery and was never found. After starting to dig for his story in July, Gustafson’s big break
came when she was looking over court records.
The Allies held numerous tribunals after the war. Gustafson found Walker’s name in one of the trials.
It appears that he was found by two members of the French resistance after his plane went down. They in turn were captured by German SS soldiers, who took Walker into the woods and then executed him.
“His family was never able to bring him home,” Gustafson said. “A lot of people had claimed he was just lost, or that he was killed by the French. That’s not what happened.”


Walker grew up in Illinois but at some point, his mother moved to Arizona and remarried. Gustafson said the handsome Walker was active at Kingman High School, playing football and basketball, doing theater and playing the saxophone. He was 27 when he died.
Gustafson said she hasn’t completed her research yet. She would love to talk to one of his descendants if she can find them.
She said she’s been sharing the research with her classes.
“They ask me questions about it too,” she said. “They’re like, ‘What did you find out now, Mrs. G.?’ I’ll let them know. I’ve taught them how to search through census data and some of the kids looked their parents up on Ancestry.com.”


National History Day has given the researchers deadlines to complete their research. Then they’ll take the story and images that were collected and post them to the web page. It’s one way of recognizing some of the Silent Heroes from the past.  

Cathy Shumard Historical League co-chair NHDAZ and Donna with Mobi at NHD mentoring session, Spirit of the West

Donna with her 2 students whom she took to Nationals, Sonja Piccinini and Kadence Jackson, along with furry companion Mobi at Jim Henson statue, University of MD.

Kadence Johnson NHDAZ, Santan Jr. High student

 "It would be a fascinating topic to learn about, especially with personal connections." Kadence Johnson NHDAZ student reflects on why she chose the topic for her paper- The Day That Lives in Infamy: The Revolution of Pearl Harbor. Kadence writes, "I chose the topic of Pearl Harbor because I have a mixed heritage of Japanese and American. I thought that since I used to have a relative who was in Japan for some of the war, that it would be a fascinating topic to learn about, especially with personal connections. The attacks of Pearl Harbor were revolutionary because they entangled America in WWII, ushering along a swifter ending. If Pearl Harbor had not occurred, the outcome of the war would have been substantially different."

Fourteen students out of 3,000, were invited to attend a writing workshop at The People’s House: A White House Experience on June 17, sponsored by the White House Historical Association.
When asked what she was most Interested in for Nationals, Kadence replied, "I am incredibly excited to see the People’s House while we are visiting! I’ve always been interested in the White House and our presidency. I am overall so excited to show off my hard work in such a beautiful, and important place!"

Her wish came true . . . She was selected to participate in a writer’s workshop at The People’s House as they were impressed with her work. Congrats NHDAZ Kadence Johnson!!

And THANKS to her teacher, Donna Gustafson from Santan Jr High in Chandler who took two students, Sofia Piccinini and Kadence Johnson, to National Competition in June.

NHD teacher Donna Gustafson, Sofia Piccinini and Kadence Johnson with Donna's support dog Mobi

Sofia Piccinini and Kadence Johnson

What is National History Day?

 Our NHDAZ students did us proud! The National History Day® National Contest June 14–18 had the theme Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. Arizona students joined more than half a million students globally who completed historical research projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. The Historical League is proud to support NHDAZ.

After completing their research and designing a project, students competed in a series of contests beginning at the local level. The top students from 49 states, Washington D.C., U.S. territories, and international schools advance to the annual National Contest. Only 3,000 students advanced to the top level this year.

“National History Day provides an incredibly enriching experience for students in middle and high school,” said NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “NHD students learn to research, analyze, and effectively articulate their position. Just one percent of this year’s NHD participants advanced to the national level, so all students should be proud of their achievements. NHD will benefit students far beyond academics as they become successful professionals, community-minded leaders, and engaged citizens.”

540 historians and education professionals served as judges for the students' work. More than 100 students took home cash prizes for superior work in a particular category of judging, along with special prizes from a variety of sponsors. More information at nhd.org.

Thank you from Ethan Tsay NHDAZ student

 "I've learned to reclaim lost stories of the past." This is Ethan Tsay and my NHD project this year was an individual website - Freedom Schools: Revolutionizing Education.

The most rewarding part of competing in National History Day is learning to transform the facts of history into an intimate story, especially stories of underrepresented minorities. From my projects on photography, Black barbershops, to the Freedom Schools this year, I've learned to reclaim lost stories of the past and reframing their significance in the broad spectrum of history. I am thankful for the Historical League's stipends and support, and grateful for the lifelong lessons NHD has taught me.

Best,

Ethan Tsay

Thank you from NHDAZ Anya Sridharan

 "It felt incredible to see our hours of hard work, dedication and effort pay off."

Anya Sridharan went to National History Day Nationals in June with "The Fight for Humanity: Terezin Ghetto". She and Jasmin Yap represented Willis Junior High and Arizona with this in-depth Group Exhibit on Nazi Germany and Czechoslovakia during WWII.

Anya's Thank you note to Cathy Shumard Cochair, Historical League Committee for Historical League was insightful. The Historical League is proud to support these industrious students.

Sent: Friday, July 3, 2026 05:56 PM

Subject: 2026 National History Day

Dear Ms. Shumard,

Thank you to you and the members of The Historical League for sponsoring my participation in National History Day.

It felt incredible to see our hours of hard work, dedication and effort pay off, and It was amazing to meet hundreds of kids from around the globe who are also passionate about history. I learned not only about my topic but also how to research, collaborate and persevere in the face of challenges.

Thank you again for your support and this amazing opportunity!

Sincerely,

Anya Sridharan

Anya Sridharan and Jasmin Yap

Thank you from Grahm Hardy NHDAZ student

 "I also loved the energy and excitement of the awards ceremony." Grahm Hardy's thank you note radiates enthusiasm for National History Day Arizona.

Dear Historical League,

My recent experience competing at the National History Day National competition was something I will always remember. My favorite part was touring the Capitol with the group and getting to see the national monuments. I also loved the energy and excitement of the awards ceremony and meeting so many nice people. It was cool getting to know my teammate Ziv more, and we were excited to take home a medal for Outstanding Entry Award.

Thank you for the support and help getting here. It was a lot of fun.

Grahm Hardy

Congratulations to you and Ziv Shemen! NHD awarded you both Outstanding Affiliate, junior group website, "The Nuclear Chain Reaction: The Explosive Discovery That Changed the World."

Thank you from NHD AZ Stefan Nickerson

 Stefen Nickerson writes, “Thank you so much for all the support at National History Day this year! I really enjoyed all of the friendliness and pin trading with other competitors. It was so fun seeing the campus and exploring the Washington DC area with all of its history.” 

He and Isaac Chau did a Junior Group Documentary: Year Zero, The Khmer Rouge Genocide.

Extra Thank you from Stefen's mom, Sarah Simons, "We had such a wonderful experience at this event and made lifetime memories. Stefen’s sister Sutton Nickerson is pictured with him. Sutton qualified for NHD Nationals three years ago but was unable to attend. It was great to finally get to go and see everything. Thank you!"

The Historical League is a benefactor of NHD, with scholarships, grants, friendships, support!

Vernon D. Swaback 1940-2026, Arizona Historymaker 2019

 Honored as 2019 Arizona Historymaker, the Historical League continues to tell the life story of Vern Swaback. He and his firm have been a profound presence in our State.

The Life Story of A Legendary Architect: Vernon Swaback | Historymakers Gala

https://youtu.be/Y3H5hKgT56g?si=IFWD2VjfDWBNPwAO

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our founder, Vernon D. Swaback, FAIA, FAICP, on July 5, 2026.

Vern Swaback founded this firm in 1978 with a conviction that great architecture begins with a deep respect for the land, the community, and the people a place is meant to serve. Over nearly five decades, he grew SWABACK from a one-man practice into a nationally recognized firm, while never losing sight of the philosophy that drove him from the beginning. A Fellow of both the American Institute of Architects and the American Institute of Certified Planners, a former Chairman and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, an author of 14 books, and one of the last direct apprentices of Frank Lloyd Wright, Vern brought a rare depth of purpose to everything he touched.

To those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him, he was as much a teacher as he was a founder. His vision, his generosity, and his boundless curiosity shaped not only the places we design but the way we think about our responsibility to the world around us.

His architecture shaped places. His wisdom shaped people. He will be deeply missed.

Marshall Trimble: A piece of Arizona History. Arizona Capitol Times

 AZ Historymaker 2014, Marshall Trimble continues to share stories of Arizona. (his oral history at HistoricalLeague.org/Historymakers)

Marshall Trimble: A piece of Arizona history

by Kiera Riley, Arizona Capitol Times//July 3, 2026//  

State Historian Marshall Trimble was born and raised in Arizona. He taught Arizona history to school children and college students. He travelled around the state and struck up conversations at every stop. He recounted the stories he heard in writing. 

Now, on America’s 250th anniversary, he reflects on the many tales of opportunity in Arizona’s history and reflects on his own ascent to a nationally published historian writing on the state and country he calls home. 

Questions and answers have been lightly edited for style and clarity. 

What led you to immerse yourself in Arizona history? 

I was born here, and my story is kind of interesting in that we lived in a trailer house. Five of us lived in a little two room trailer house when I was a kid. My dad had been a farmer, but he never owned his own land. He never even graduated from high school. And he used to say to me, Marshall, he said, ‘Go to college if you can. Just know it. If you can, go to college. It’s possible for you to go to college.’ 

I went to Phoenix College. I came from a high school of about 30 students in a little railroad town, and my dad didn’t make enough money for us all to have anything. My mother had to work as a waitress. 

I could go to Phoenix College for $17 a semester, and that was in the 1950s, so that wasn’t that long ago. It sure wasn’t to me, but I was the first in my family to go to college, and I did it working at Encanto Park for $1 an hour and paid my way through the first two years of college. Then I was able to go on to ASU. It had just become ASU in about 1958. I got a master’s degree, and I started out as a school teacher, teaching Arizona history at a local high school here in Scottsdale. It was starvation wages. 

Then, I just fell into a job teaching Arizona history at Scottsdale Community College, and next thing you know, my students said, Marshall, you should write a book, and I said, I can’t even write a good term paper, just barely graduated from college, and they said, but “Tell your stories, just tell the stories. Your students love to hear the stories about Arizona.” 

I thought about that for a couple of days, and I sat down one night and wrote a whole chapter on a topic. I submitted a manuscript to Doubleday in New York, and doggone it, they published it. I couldn’t believe it when I got word they bought it. They offered me $10,000. That was more than I was making a whole year as a teacher. I thought maybe I hit on something here, and next thing, oh, I’m autographing books, and publishers are asking me to write something else. 

I know that was unusual, probably, but the opportunity was there to do that. Only in America could that have happened. 

Sandra Day O'Connor and Barry Goldwater: Rebel Spirits

 Rebel Spirit. Prominently featured photos of Arizona Historymakers Barry Goldwater and Sandra Day O'Connor in AZ Republic article.

The Historical League created the Historymaker Program in 1992, honoring many distinguished Arizonans.

Nikhil Pandey places in Top Ten Senior Individual Performance

 Nikhil Pandey's name is on the jumbo trom with his Senior Individual Performance at National History Day finals. WOW!! It is an amazing achievement to be in the top ten! Congratulations!

The Historical League is a strong supporter of this program.

A special congratulations also to Esther Wu, who placed in the top 10 in Junior Individual Website; to Dorothy Zho and Thanvi Voruganti, who placed in the top 10 for Senior Group Documentary.