NATIONAL HISTORY DAY IN INDIANA SPECIAL PRIZES

In 2020, educators whose students win any of the special prizes below will be awarded a $50 prize.

Prizes will be announced to Indiana students and educators at the NHDI State Contest. Participants do not have to place in first, second or third to receive a special prize. All projects except Performance must be submitted by Friday, April 10, 2020, in order to be eligible for the prize. Cash prizes will be awarded upon receipt of appropriate documentation by June 30, 2020.

Don’t forget to check out our topic suggestions for each prize, found in the Guide to NHDI. This is not an exhaustive list; feel free to explore more!

$100 CASH PRIZE

Geeslin Hoosier President Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on America’s Hoosier President, Benjamin Harrison.
Sponsored in honor of retired president and CEO of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Phyllis Geeslin, by her friends and admirers

Gene Stratton Porter Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on Indiana environmentalist and author Gene Stratton Porter.
Sponsored by Janet McCabe and Jon Laramore in memory of Evelyn McCabe

Latino History Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on Latino History in Indiana.
Sponsored anonymously

Wendell Jack Peterson Prize for Public School Education History
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project that explores the history and its people of Indiana’s public schools.
Sponsored in honor of retired Indiana Public School Administrator and Servant Wendell Jack Peterson by Becky Boyle

$250 CASH PRIZE

Asian American History Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on Asian American history in Indiana.
Sponsored by David and Christina Wong

Bill Curran Memorial Prize for Irish Heritage
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project that features Indiana’s Irish-American heritage.
Sponsored by Patti Curran

Crown Hill Heritage Foundation Prize for Notable Hoosiers
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project about a notable Hoosier buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Sponsored by the Crown Hill Heritage Foundation

Eiteljorg Museum Prize for Native Americans
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on Indiana’s Native Americans.
Sponsored by the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Indiana Local History Prize – Youth and Junior Division
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project focused on local Indiana history.
Sponsored by the IHS Heritage Support Grants program

Indiana Local History Prize – Senior Division
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project focused on local Indiana history.
Sponsored by the IHS Heritage Support Grants program

Indiana Pioneers Prize for Early Indiana (pre-1840)
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project related to pre-1840, pioneer-era Indiana.
Sponsored by The Society of Indiana Pioneers

International History in Indiana Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on an international history topic that has an Indiana connection.
Sponsored anonymously 

John Bartlow Martin Award
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on journalism and/or journalists in Indiana.
Sponsored by Ray E. Boomhower

Madam C.J. Walker Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project about Madam C.J. Walker’s time in Indiana.
Sponsored by Andrew Halter and Joshua Rogers in honor of Tanya Stuart Overdorf

Patti Curran Prize for Fashion Design in Indiana
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project that features an Indiana fashion designer or designers.
Sponsored by Patti Curran

Roy F. Stringer Memorial Prize for Labor Unions in Indiana
Awarded to student or group with an outstanding project that explores the history of Labor Unions in Indiana.
Sponsored by Andrew Halter and Joshua Rogers

Women’s History in Indiana Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on Women’s History in Indiana.
Sponsored by the Indiana Women’s History Association

$500 CASH PRIZE

Ayres Prize for Commerce in Indiana
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project related to the history of commerce in Indiana.
Sponsored by Nancy Ayres

Ayres Prize for Indiana Architecture
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project related to the history of Indiana architecture.
Sponsored by Nancy Ayres

Ayres Prize for Indiana Transportation
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project related to the history of transportation in Indiana.
Sponsored by Nancy Ayres

The Cole Porter Prize for Indiana Musical Heritage
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on the life and legacy of Cole Porter.
Sponsored by Steve and Mag Russell

Daughters of the American Revolution Prize for George Rogers Clark and the Northwestern Campaign
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project related to George Rogers Clark’s Northwestern Campaign during the American Revolution.
Sponsored by Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution

Indiana University Bicentennial Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on the history of Indiana University, its people, campuses, events, and/or impact.
Sponsored by Indiana University

Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on the women’s suffrage movement in Indiana and/or the involvement of Indiana women in state, local or national politics leading up to or since 1920.
Sponsored by Indiana Humanities

Indianapolis Indians Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project on the history of the Indianapolis Indians.
Sponsored by the Indianapolis Indians

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Prize
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project that features Indiana automotive history or auto racing.
Sponsored by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum 

Richard G. Lugar Prize for Documentary Excellence
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding documentary project on Indiana Political History.
Sponsored by Larry S. Landis

Sallie Rowland Prize for Furniture Design
Awarded to a student or group with an outstanding project related to the history of furniture design in Indiana.
Sponsored by Sallie Rowland

$1000 CASH PRIZE

National History Day in Indiana Prize
Awarded to a high school junior or senior student, recognizing the outstanding body of work accomplished across many years of individual or group project participation. Requires separate application.
Sponsored by the Indiana Historical Society

More prizes may be added throughout the year.