AHS Education team travels to Canyon View Elementary School in Catalina Foothills

 AHS Education Team is like the Eveready bunny . . . They continue to travel the state, sharing ways to teach students and teachers about the importance of primary sources.

Dr. Kristen Rex writes, "Many thanks to Canyon View Elementary in the Catalina Foothills School District for allowing us to come teach about hands on learning using primary sources😎

Lyndsey, Emily and Abby did an amazing job!"

Kristen Rex at Library and Archives, Arizona History Museum in Tucson

Kristen Rex views the treasure trove of knowledge at Library and Archives, Arizona History Museum, after an epic transfer from Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff. As AHS Education Director, she knows there is a world of rich Arizona history to be found in those stacks.

National History Day Arizona students can be directed to this valuable resource.

AHS Education Team visit Riordan Mansion

"Getting to hang with new education curator, Abigail Austin. We went to the Riordan and learned about the family and their impact on Flagstaff." writes Kristen Rex as she and Emily Hahn enjoyed Flagstaff, both ready to share their experiences with the rest of the education department at Arizona Historical Society.

Kristen Rex

Abigail Austin

3rd Grade Postcard Contest Winners

Over 1,000 entries and 15 students were selected to win the 3rd grade AHS Arizona Postcard Contest. These talented young artists were chosen for their outstanding creativity and thoughtful designs celebrating Arizona's history and the 5 C's.

One of the winners is Skye Martin, CTA Liberty Elementary School, Chandler.

Prizes include:

- A hosted Pizza Party (courtesy of the Historical League)

- A swag bag filled with art supplies and Arizona Historical Society goodies

- Their winning design is professionally printed on postcards available for purchase at any Arizona Historical Society Museum.

This was the Arizona Historical Society 4th annual postcard contest for Arizona 3rd graders. Aligning with Arizona Department of Education History and Social Science standards, lessons were developed to teach students about the use of postcards during the time of Arizona’s Statehood.

Students were asked to create a postcard to show what they had learned about Arizona (5 C’s of Arizona, 22 tribes of Arizona, History, Geography from prehistoric times to now).

Addison Shomaker, Skye Martin with Dr. Rex 
at CTA Liberty Elementary School

3rd grader Elliot Wilson proudly displays his work with teacher Ms. Freeman

Daniel Jackson Anza Trail Elementary

Avril Guervara Metcalf Elementary

Megan Strom, teacher Ms. Natalie Gallabi

Sophia Martinez with Mom and Great Grandmother

Emmalynn Bourgette with Dr. Kristen Rex

Lilith Geddes with family and Dr. Rex

Waylon Bedoya, Gowan Science Academy

NHDAZ thanks Historical League with Facebook video

Here are screen shots from a National History Day Arizona Facebook video featuring Leonard Moody, NHD education program co-ordinator.

The feeling is mutual!!!

Historymaker Documentary for 2025 Turquoise & Treasures

Creating a documentary: Thanks to the knowledge of high  school junior, Thanvi Voruganti, 1992-2023 Arizona Historymakers have been recorded in a 20-minute documentary. Thanvi was the Curator. 

The documentary committee: Creative Director Ruth McLeod, Editors Cathy Shumard and Zona Lorig, AHS National History Day Coordinator Leonard Moody, AHS V.P. Education Dr. Kristen Rex, and NHD Advisor/Teacher Stacey Trepanier are grateful for her expertise. Ruth commented, “Thanvi was delightful to work with, clear grasp of the goals, creative and prompt in  her response to the project.

The documentary featured all Historymakers from 1992-2023. It was emailed to all 2025 Historymakers, Historymakers who came to the event and all attendees. 

https://www.youtube.com/@arizonahistoricalleague 

Thanvi posed with Eleanor Roosevelt while in Washington D.C. for National History Day competition

3rd Grade Postcard Contest 2026

 Calling all Arizona 3rd grade teachers, it's time to kickoff our 4th annual Postcard Contest!

Our annual postcard contest is open to 3rd graders across Arizona! Submissions should creatively celebrate Arizona through the 5 Cs, historical events, landscapes, people, or animals. All work must be hand-drawn and include the AHS copper “Bug”, the X symbol in our logo. See contest rules for more information and submission details on our website. One submission per classroom will be considered. Must be postmarked by January 30, 2026.

Visit: https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/.../ahs-postcard.../

to learn more or email krex@azhs.gov

Traveling Trunk with Kristen Rex and AHS Education Team

 Kristen Rex with AHS Education Team are creating unique objects for the Traveling Trunk program.

The Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum reports:

Museum friends are the best! We recently hosted colleagues from the Arizona Historical Society’s Arizona History Museum (Tucson) and Arizona Heritage Center (Tempe). We will be providing them with Arizona rock and mineral specimens for their traveling trunk educational outreach program.

Thanks for visiting us, AHS friends!

AHS Education: Emily Hahn, Holly Barnard, Kristen Rex, Taylor Kyle

AZ 2025 History Teacher of the Year Jeron Velasco celebrated in Cibecue

 Awards are meant to be celebrated. The crowds turned out at Cibecue Community School honoring Jeron Velasco for earning Arizona 2025 History Teacher of the Year. AHS V.P. of Education Dr. Kristen Rex and NHD Coordinator Leonard Moody traveled to the award ceremony and enjoyed the presentation of dancers, costumes, storytelling of the White Mountain Apache.

Jeron and wife Gene were one of 6 teachers/advisors to accompany 37 NHDAZ students to national competition in Washington D.C. in June. His dedication is admirable. Good to see him recognized!!

Jeron is among the 53 candidates for the “National History Teacher of the Year” competition.

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!

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!

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.

NHD students going to Nationals in Washington, D.C.

 The future of our country is in good hands as evidenced by the National History Day students. Grades 9-12 participated in a mentoring session at Western Spirit Museum of the West, preparing to go to Washington D.C. for National Competition in June.

The Historical League gives monetary help with air fair ($300 each) and travel expenses ($200 each) for the exhibits, t-shirts, cowboy hats and more. We are proud to sponsor the 38 students (including 4 teachers) going to Nationals this year.

Shipping this exhibit is costly. The Historical League gives $200 per student to defray costs of shipping to Washington D.C.

Pam den Draak hands out $300 checks to students for travel expenses.