At the VHD State Contest, students will be eligible to win the following special awards. Students may wish to consider these awards while choosing a topic. See below for a comprehensive list of current special awards. As you or your students consider topics to study, be sure to look over this list of special award topic ideas for inspiration: VHD Special Award Topic Ideas
BRENTON S. HALSEY TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Brenton S. Halsey Teaching Excellence Award will be awarded to a Virginia public, private, or home school educator who teaches social studies, history, or civics and participates in the Virginia History Day program. Teachers will be nominated for the $500 prize by their VHD District coordinators. The teacher receiving this award demonstrates an understanding of history and enthusiasm for the subject, fosters a spirit of inquiry and the development of critical thinking skills among students, uses and promotes innovative and creative teaching techniques and materials, and provides leadership in the field of history education.
VHD DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Virginia History Day District Teacher of the Year Award will be awarded to 7 Virginia educators, one from each of the VHD geographic districts, who participate in the Virginia History Day program. All VHD participating educators, including from homeschools, private schools, public schools, libraries, and museums are eligible. Educators will be nominated for this award by any representative from their community, or they can self-nominate. The nominee receiving this award demonstrates an understanding of history and enthusiasm for the subject, fosters a spirit of inquiry and the development of critical thinking skills among students, uses and promotes innovative and creative teaching techniques and materials, and provides leadership in the field of history education. The 7 winners of this award will receive a certificate, 1-year VMHC teacher membership, and a $150 honorarium. Nominations are now open, submit one by clicking here!
BOBBY CHANDLER SENIOR PROJECT AWARD
The Bobby Chandler Senior Project Award recognizes a Senior Division project that demonstrates distinction in historical research and scholarship related to Virginia history. The $750 award, made possible through the Kip Kephart Foundation, is given to a project that is creative, uses original primary source materials, and demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of some facet of Virginia’s past. Special consideration will be given to projects that connect local history to a statewide, nationwide, or worldwide topic.
ANNE R. WORRELL JUNIOR PROJECT AWARD
The Anne R. Worrell Junior Project Award recognizes a Junior Division project that demonstrates distinction in historical research and scholarship related to Virginia history. The $500 award is given to a project that is creative, uses original primary source materials, and demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of some facet of Virginia’s past. Special consideration will be given to projects that connect local history to a statewide, nationwide, or worldwide topic.
The Encyclopedia Virginia Elementary Project Award recognizes an Elementary Division project that demonstrates distinction in historical research and scholarship related to Virginia history. The $250 award is given to a project that is creative, uses original primary source materials, and demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of some facet of Virginia’s past. Special consideration will be given to projects that connect local history to a statewide, nationwide, or worldwide topic.
The Betsy S. Barton History Day Scholarship honors a high school junior or senior (11th or 12th grader) who is a passionate advocate for history education and who is deeply committed to including all voices in our shared historical narrative. For Betsy, teaching history was an evolving exercise in teaching humanity and tolerance, a means of forging connections across time and space. She inspired and impacted a generation of young people and educators alike as an enthusiastic steward of history education. This $1,000 scholarship will be given to the Virginia History Day project in any “individual” category that best represents the spirit of how Betsy taught and thought about history.
The role of women in history has often been overlooked. To honor the importance of this field, the VMHC will present an award to both a Junior and Senior Division entry that demonstrates superior research and scholarship related to the contribution, accomplishments, experiences, or perspectives of women in history. Each winning project will receive a $200 prize.
The George C. Marshall International Center will present an award to both a Junior and Senior Division entry that focuses on diplomacy. In honor of Secretary of State George C. Marshall (1947–1949), entries should show how effective diplomacy, at any time in history, combines selflessness and integrity with national interests, all principles for which Marshall stood. The winning entry in the Junior and Senior Divisions will receive $100 and a family pass to visit George C. Marshall’s historic home in Leesburg, Virginia.
The Naval Order of the Unites States’ “charge” is to encourage research and writing on naval and maritime subjects, including the Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, and to promote the preservation of historic artifacts and memories of our naval and maritime history. NOUS will present two $200 awards, one in each Junior & Senior Division, to the entries that best explores naval history and related maritime subjects.
The work of scientists, physicians, and nurses in the field of medicine has profoundly shaped the world we live in today. A deeper understanding of the human body and diseases has increased lifespans and led to a more complete comprehension of our environment. To honor the importance of this field, the MCV Foundation will present an award to both a Junior and Senior Division entry that demonstrates superior research and scholarship related to medical history. Each winning project will receive a $200 prize.
The National Maritime Historical Society seeks to inform all Americans, young and old alike, of the rich maritime heritage of our country and its importance, not only in the past, but most importantly to the future of the nation. NMHS will award prizes in both the Junior and Senior Divisions to projects focused on the maritime heritage of the country. First prize in both Divisions includes a $100 prize for each project as well as a one-year membership in NMHS and a subscription to Sea History for each participant and their mentoring teacher. Second place in both Divisions will receive a $50 prize as well as a one-year membership in NMHS and a subscription to Sea History for each participant and their mentoring teacher.
Colonial Virginians established the first elected legislative body in America in 1619, and the Commonwealth ratified ten amendments to the Constitution in 1791, giving the United States its Bill of Rights. To highlight this legacy, the John Marshall Center for Constitutional History & Civics will present an award to both a Junior and Senior Division entry that demonstrates superior understanding of the rights and duties of citizens, how government works, or why it has changed over time at the local, state, or federal level. Each winning project will receive a $200 prize.
The General Douglas MacArthur Foundation will present three awards: one each for the Elementary, Junior, and Senior Divisions. The awards will be given to outstanding entries that focus on some aspect of WWI, WWII, the Occupation of Japan, or the Korean War - all events in which General MacArthur participated. The Elementary Division winner will receive a $50 prize and the Junior and Senior Division winner will receive a $100 prize. All winners will also receive a MacArthur Commemorative Medallion.
The Mary Bicouvaris Award in Virginia History is given by her friends in honor of her many years of service to students and teachers in Hampton City Public Schools and Hampton Roads Academy and as a Professor of Education at Christopher Newport University. She believed that the most important job in the world was teaching and her love of democracy was her teaching trademark. The Mary Bicouvaris Award in Virginia History will be presented to both a Junior and Senior Division entry focused on any aspect of Virginia history. Each student participant responsible for the winning projects will receive $50.00. 
The Military Aviation Museum will present an award to both a Junior and Senior Division entry that focuses on aviation history, with an emphasis on projects that relate to the WWII period. Recipients will receive $500, as well as a one-year family membership to the Military Aviation Museum. Winning students will also be invited to the museum to present on their projects at a later date. Sponsoring teachers of successful entries will receive $100 to support the purchase of classroom supplies, and a one-year family membership to the Museum as well. 
Sponsored by the White House Historical Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion, this prize is awarded to outstanding projects that document and analyze White House history through such subjects as individual presidents, first ladies, residence staff, White House art and architecture, or important events that took place in the White House. The winning entry in the Senior and Junior Division will receive a $400 award, and the winning entry in the Elementary Division will receive a $100 award.
The Asian & Latino Solidarity Alliance (ALSA) will present one award to a project that best promotes, researches, preserves, interprets, or disseminates information about Asian life, history, or culture in the global community. This $250 award will be presented to a project in either the Junior or Senior Division.