National History Day, represented in Pennsylvania by the Army Heritage Center Foundation, was awarded the prestigious 2011 National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony on Monday, February 13. Dr. Cathy Gorn, Executive Director of NHD, accepted the award on behalf of the NHD staff, board, and honorary advisory council.

The National Humanities Medal honors achievements in history, literature, education, and cultural policy. This is the first time a K-12 education program has received the National Humanities Medal. The award citation describes National History Day as “a program that inspires in American students a passion for history. Each year more than half a million children from across the country compete in this event, conducting research and producing websites, papers, performances, and documentaries to tell the human story.”

Thousands of Pennsylvania’s best and brightest students participate on an annual basis. Hundreds have gone on to compete at the national level, where Pennsylvania students frequently win top honors. “Pennsylvania can be very proud of this award,” says State Coordinator Jeff Hawks. “Having a great program is not enough,” he adds. “You need great students, great teachers, and great supporters to make the program work.”

What began as a series of contests operating out of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio is today an international, year-long academic program for 6th to 12th graders focused on historical research. NHD operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and is expanding internationally in Europe, China, Indonesia, and South Korea, serving more than half a million children annually with its unique approach to the hands-on learning of history. A recent comprehensive study by Rockman et al. found that students who participate in NHD develop a range of college and career-ready skills, and outperform their peers on state standardized tests across all subjects – including science and math.

“The Army Heritage Center Foundation is proud to serve as the Pennsylvania state sponsor for National History Day,” says Foundation Executive Director Mike Perry. The Foundation took over management of the National History Day in Pennsylvania program in 2008, overseeing the statewide program and managing the state contest. The 2012 NHD in PA state contest will take place at Cumberland Valley High School on May 4 and 5, 2012.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the President and your peers for doing work that you love – helping students understand and appreciate history,” said Gorn. “NHD represents the most ambitious humanities learning model for middle and high school students in the United States today. I have witnessed firsthand that the study of history can change the life of a young person far beyond this program. These students achieve not only academically but are also prepared for life.”

The Army Heritage Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit located in Carlisle, PA. To find out more about the National History Day in Pennsylvania program and how to get involved please visit www.armyheritage.org or www.pa.nhd.org, or contact the Army Heritage Center Foundation at 717-258-1102 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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