History Day

HistoryLink.org is a proud sponsor of Washington History Day.  HistoryLink.org staff participate in annual workshops for History Day educators, focusing on strategies to optimize HistoryLink.org for use in History Day projects.  Requests for research assistance from students are answered with careful attention to challenging the students to find the necessary information themselves. HistoryLink.org staff historians regularly serve as judges at regional and state contests.

To promote student learning and research into Washington state history topics, HistoryLink.org acknowledges students and educators who have demonstrated excellence in History Day projects and creative teaching methods with annual awards.

History Day Resources 
Washington History Day website is designed to provide information for students, educators, institutions, and any others interested in Washington History Day.  
http://www.wshs.org/historyday/default.aspx

Seattle Municipal Archives is a repository for primary sources on Washington state history and a great resource for History Day projects. On their website you will find information about History Day, including guidience on navigating the Archives’ rich resources and History Day topic suggestions. 
http://www.cityofseattle.net/CityArchives/Exhibits/historyday.htm

HistoryLink.org History Day Awards

For Students
HistoryLink.org Award for Outstanding Essay on Washington State History
HistoryLink.org presents an annual monetary award at both the North Puget Sound Regional and State History Day competitions to a student who has written an exemplary historical paper concerning Washington state history. The winning students also receive an invitation to HistoryLink.org’s annual HistoryLunch as special guests. The winning historical papers and author information may be posted on HistoryLink.org.

• Criteria: The historical paper’s theme must be on some aspect of Washington state history, and the entry must comply with History Day rules. At North Puget Sound Regional History Day, the award is given to the highest-ranked paper of those selected to move on to the state competition. Each of the Junior and Senior Divisions may have a winning paper.
• Eligibility:  For the regional prize, the student must live and/or attend school in the North Puget Sound Region and participate in History Day as defined by National History Day guidelines. For the state prize, the student must live and/or attend school in the state of Washington, participate in History Day as defined by National History Day guidelines, and have advanced from a regional competition. The entry must be in the historical paper category and comply with category rules.
• Requirements: The historical paper must be about a topic related to Washington state history and comply with category rules
• For more information contact Washington History Day at historyday@wshs.wa.gov, North Puget Sound Regional History Day at randyschnabel@mac.com, or HistoryLink.org at education@historylink.org or 206.447.8140

Previous HistoryLink.org History Day Outstanding Essay Award Winners

For Teachers 
HistoryLink.org and Alaska Airlines, along with the Washington State Historical Society, are pleased to sponsor two History Day awards for educators. The winners will receive roundtrip airline tickets and additional financial support to attend the National History Day contest near Washington, D.C., and will be honored at HistoryLink.org’s annual HistoryLunch event.

The Walt Crowley Teacher of Merit Award
In honor of HistoryLink.org founder and History Day enthusiast Walt Crowley, this award is presented annually to an outstanding History Day teacher who works with students in the National History Day program and demonstrates innovative teaching techniques in and out of the classroom. The winning teacher will receive an airline ticket to attend that year’s National History Day Contest near Washington, D.C., and compete for the national PBS Teacher of Merit Award. Winners are selected by the Washington History Day Advisory Committee according to criteria set by National History Day. HistoryLink.org is pleased to partner with Alaska Airlines to fund the winner’s trip to the National History Day competition. For more information on the nomination and selection process, please contact historyday@wshs.wa.gov.

• Criteria: Nominees are evaluated on their development and use of creative teaching methods that engage students in history and their exemplary commitment to help students develop their interest in history and recognize their achievements.
• Eligibility: Current History Day educators are eligible. Complete nomination information and guidelines are available from historyday@wshs.wa.gov.
• Requirements: The educator selected for this honor will attend the National History Day contest and professional development workshops held in conjunction with the competition. Upon return, the educator will submit a brief report on what he or she learned at the contest and how it will influence their future teaching methodology and classroom activities, to be submitted to the Washington History Day Advisory Committee. This report will be posted on HistoryLink.org’s Education page.
• For more information contact Washington History Day at historyday@wshs.wa.gov or HistoryLink.org at education@historylink.org or 206.447.8140.

The Walt Crowley Teacher Mentor Award
Teachers who attend the National History Day competition each year consistently describe it as a rich learning experience. Besides cheering on Washington students, teachers attend a variety of workshops designed to help them enhance their classroom practices, and interact with other teachers from around the world. Friendships are forged, camaraderie prevails, and teachers return energized to share what they’ve learned.  In recognition of the motivational aspects of History Day for educator professional development, HistoryLink.org is pleased to sponsor the Walt Crowley Teacher Mentor Award. This award will provide funding for a History Day teacher who has not attended the national contest, but has at least three years of History Day teaching experience, to attend the National History Day competition near Washington, D.C. The winner will attend workshops, observe the contest, and return fortified with new knowledge and enthusiasm for history education. HistoryLink.org and Alaska Airlines are partnering to provide funding for the trip.

• Criteria: The winner will be selected by the History Day Advisory Committee from nominations received from History Day Regional Coordinators and professional peers. The winner does not have to be associated with a winning student entry to be considered for this award.
• Eligibility: The educator must be a History Day teacher in Washington state with at least three years of History Day teaching experience. The winner must be available to attend the National History Day contest and associated professional development workshops, typically held the second or third week of June..
• Requirements: The educator selected for this honor will attend the National History Day contest and associated professional development workshops. Upon return, the winner will submit a brief report to the Washington History Day Advisory Committee about what he or she learned at the contest and how it will influence their teaching methodology and classroom activities. This report will be posted on HistoryLink.org’s Education Resource.
• For more information contact Washington History Day at historyday@wshs.wa.gov or HistoryLink.org at education@historylink.org or 206.447.8140.