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

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

NHD Students win Historical League Award for Arizona Story

  In-depth documentary by NHD students Nathan Davies-Venn and Max Luo took first place in Junior Group Documentary. They are recipients of Historical League award: Best Junior Group Award for an Arizona Story, each earning $150.

Love the "Special Thanks" page acknowledging Historical League members Stacey Trepanier(teacher) and Dr. Josephine Pete for their invaluable assistance with the documentary.

Nathan and Max are excited to head to Nationals in College Park, MD in June.

Thanks to Scottsdale's Museum of the West for hosting this mentoring day.

The Many Volunteers at NHDAZ State Competition

Smiling faces greeted the students for NHDAZ State Competition at the check in table at South Mountain Community College April 11. Thanks to Historical League volunteers Robin Ferguson, Melissa Johnson, Margaret Baker and Pam denDraak for helping make the day go smoothly. There were a total of fourteen Historical League members helping as judges, greeters, photographers and with whatever needed to be done. 

Many Historical League members spent the day as judges and it was an intense, very satisfying time for them.

Meeting the students and encouraging their work is a big part of the day.

The Jersey Boys and League Ladies

Where were you in 1962?  Remember Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons?  "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man" and "You're Just Too Good To Be True."

A lively and enthusiastic presentation of The Jersey Boys brought the Historical League crowd to their feet. Lots of clapping, foot stomping, swaying to the music took place on Saturday, March 29 at Phoenix Theatre. 

The Historical League group agreed on the performance. . . "Oh, What A Night"!! 

Thanks to Josie Pete for the fun photos.

Diana Smith, Ane Lupica

Robin Ferguson, Josie Pete, Dean Willie

Katie Tovar, Karolee Hess, Josie Pete, Pam denDraak, Vanessa Rogers

2025 Historymaker Co-Chairs - the Smith Ladies

 The Duo Team of the two D. Smith ladies - two amazing leaders to Co-Chair 2023 AND 2025 Arizona Historymakers. Diane Smith does the Historymakers Recognition Program and Diana Smith focuses on the Historymakers Event. They make a great team with lots of support from Historical League Co-President Pam denDraak, many more League members and AHS Executive Director Dr. David Breeckner.

February filled with Friendship, Fun, Food . . . Music and History at our meeting

Celebrating friendship and Valentine's Day, the tables were decorated in hearts (thanks to Sandra Loeffler) awaiting the delicious lunch from Creations by Sergio. 

Thanks to a very generous member (anonymous) who offered to pay for everyone's February 3rd lunch as a gift to the membership.  

Thanks to Jolynn Clarke for organizing, Mary Perona and Katie Tovar for the pictures.

 

The Menu:

     Sweet Potato Corn Chowder

     Croissants with Butter

     Roasted Chicken and Strawberry Salad with Prickly Pear Vinaigrette Dressing

     Almond Macroons

Pat Faur, Pam den Draak, Anne Lupica

Pat Christopherson, Sandra Loeffler

Dr. Josephine Pete, Carolyn Mendoza

Historymaker Chair Diana Smith & Chris Hackett

Jan Muray, Lindy Isacksen, Mary McMahon, Emily Burns

Jan Murray and Norma Jean Coulter

Jolynn Clarke and Carolyn Mendoza

Joyce 'the Voice' Bailey, Mary Parker, Norma Hinton, guest Judy Hughes

Karen Belt, Josie Pete, Clede Gorrell, Linda Fritsch

NHDAZ co-ordinator Leonard Moody and Norma Jean Coulter

AHS Special Projects Todd Bailey, Anne Lupica, Pam denDraak, Pat Faur

Pat Christopherson, Josie Pete

Happy Birthday to Mary Parker

Joyce "the Voice" Bailey was guest speaker at the February Historical League meeting. Members were enthusiastic about her presentation. 

Katie Tovar comments, "She told us the story of her family’s migration from Mississippi to Mesa after WWII. She told us about the dual role faith and music played in her life. She sang two original songs and the spiritual "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize".

Joyce is a singer who has given concerts and led choirs in the Phoenix area for many years. She is also an educator. She taught music in grades K-8 in the Roosevelt school district for 30 years and then at a charter school in North Phoenix for another 16. She is an aficionado of gospel, blues, and jazz to name a few genres. She is also a song writer and in her spare time, she enjoys karaoke nights that begin and end early. We know her not only as a Historical League member, but also as the mother of our very own Todd Bailey who welcomes people to the Arizona Heritage Center every day.

Karen Belt and Emily Burns

Guest Judy Hughes with Mary Parker, Zona Lorig, Chris Hackett