NHD Awards

Students

Students earning first-, second-, and third-place rankings in each category and division receive a medal and cash awards that include:

  • first place, $1,000;
  • second place, $500; and
  • third place, $250.

Special Student Prizes
Additional cash prizes and medals awarded by NHD include the following:

  • $100 to $500 prizes for best entries dealing with special topics or methods in history, including Civil War history, history of the American presidency, naval history, labor history, Colonial or Revolutionary American history, history of agriculture, women's history, history of religious freedom, Irish or Irish American history, African American history, history of the federal government, and history of baseball (see a complete list of prizes);
  • partial-tuition scholarships at the University of Maryland, College Park; Chaminade University, Honolulu; and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
  • a full-tuition scholarship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland for one outstanding entry in an individual category created by a high school senior.

Outstanding State Award
Recipients of the junior and senior division Outstanding State Awards, selected by each state coordinator, receive an NHD medal.

History Channel Student Awards
The History Channel sponsors special awards of $5,000 for gold-medal recipients in the following categories:

  • Best Senior Individual Documentary; and
  • Best Senior Group Documentary.

The Legacy Award
Sponsored by the Creativity Foundation, teachers anonymously select students who stand out among their peers. These students show great creative promise and inspiration in their endeavors in any of the disciplines or in public service. Winners go to Washington, D.C. to meet with the program's Laureate winner (Past Laureates include Yo-Yo Ma, Sandra Day O'Connor and Ted Turner). Nominees must be a state contest winner.

Educators

PBS Teacher Award
PBS sponsors the PBS Teacher of Merit Award, a $5,000 cash prize that is presented to an exceptional history teacher with five or fewer years of experience. The FHF Teacher of Merit winner will be nominated for the national-level prize. Eight PBS Award finalists will be recognized at the national contest and receive a PBS video library.

Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award
The national Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award recognizes outstanding NHD teachers with six or more years of experience. The two state-level Behring Award winners are nominated for the national award. The national winners each receive a cash prize of $10,000.

History Channel Educator Award for Service
The History Channel sponsors the History Channel Award for Service, presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to history education through service to the National History Day program. The recipient receives a $5,000 cash prize.

Note: All nominations are sent to NHD, where only a national-level winner is selected.