The ​​​​Sp​otlight Award ($500 award) will be presented to a 12th-grade student who has participated in NHD-OC for a ​minimum of three (3) years including their senior year and is planning to attend college in the fall.

The student's NHD-OC coach must make a nomination for the award. A Coach may only nominate one student. Members of the NHD-OC Team will select the honoree, and the winner will be announced at the annual NHD-OC Awards Ceremony.

The student nominated for this award should demonstrate academic excellence, outstanding leadership, persistence, and strong care and concern for others. The nominee should also be someone committed to not only working hard individually but who also takes responsibility for motivating and leading others to achieve their person​al best. 

To nominate a student, please click the Nomination Form​.​

Your NHD Project could win $10,000! The Lowell Milken Center, a strong supporter of the NHD program, offers an annual competition in which NHD students across the country submit their projects for consideration in the Center's Discovery Award.

Who's eligible? Grades 6-12.

What categories? Documentary, Exhibit, Performance, and Webiste.

Requirements? Projects must emphasize Unsung Heroes in History.

• First Place entry will receive $10,000 along with special recognition

• ​​​Second Place entry will receive $3,000 and a special mention on the Center website

• Third Place entry will receive $1,000 and a special mention on the Center website.

Please contact the Lowell Milken Center for more information at www.lowellmilkencenter.org.

​​​From 1890 to present day, Southern California has undergone an amazing tr​​ansformation. Water, agriculture, mineral rights (gas and oil), transportation, land development, military, and population growth created one of the most popular regions in the world. With its ideal climate, cultural diversity, and economic opportunities, Southern California's history is unique. 

Looking at the Southern California area through your historian's eyes, what rights and responsibilities were needed to transform it into the vast area we know today? Did your family or neighbors participate in the growth of this area? Have any of your ancestors had their rights challenged, or have they had responsibility in helping others gain or maintain their rights? 

Sherman Library invites you to create a documentary exploring an individual or individuals whose rights and/or responsibilities helped the growth of Southern California. 

Junior Group Documentaries are eligible to earn the Sherman Library & Ga​rdens Award for Regional History Research. Winners will be awarded $500 to be shared by the group plus a family membership for each member of the group. Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:​

• Regional or local history topic
• Originality of the research
• Use of primary sources
• Quality of presentation

Please complete this Nomination form​.​  Nominations are due February 14, 2025.​

Documentaries that cherish and respect the lessons of the Holocaust are eligible to receive the Holocaust Education Center Remembrance and Education: Voice Against Darkness Documentary Award.

Groups will receive $200 to share with group members; individuals will receive $100. Winners will be selected based on the following criteria:​

• The project must be based on the topic of the Holocaust; i.e., a Holocaust survivor or rescuer or event of the Holocaust.
• The project must be based on a variety of primary and secondary sources.
• The project describes people and events in the past in ways that are respectful and accurate.
• The project explains the historical significance of the topic researched.
• The project embodies the theme, Rights and Responsibilities.

Documentaries that are nominated meet the following qualifications:

• Evidence is given of multiple perspectives.
  
• Evidence is explored in a visually appealing and tasteful manner.​

Please complete this Nomination form​. Nominations are due February 14, 2025.

Contact the Orange County Holocaust Education Center for more information by visiting the OC Holocaust Museum website.​

The Yosemite Invitation allows each county to advance one project from up to three new schools to the NHD-CA state competition.

The qualifications are:

• Your school must not have a winning project advancing from the county competition.
• Your school must have not participated in NHD within the last five contest years.
• As the teacher, you must be new to NHD.
• Entries for consideration are in either the Junior (grades 6-8) or Senior (grades 9-12) divisions.
• Only one project per school is eligible.
• You as the teacher must commit to attending and judging at NHD-CA.

Selected entries will compete on the same level as all other entries attending NHD-CA, including the opportunity to represent NHD-CA at the NHD contest in Maryland.

Invitations will be sent to new schools/coaches in February.

Group websites that embrace and embody the traits of "The Pioneer Spirit" are eligible to receive the Moulton Award. Winners will be awarded $200 to share with group members. Nominees will be selected based on the following criteria:​

• The project must be visually appealing and based on a variety of primary and secondary sources.
• The project addresses issues that many people in the com​munity find important today, e.g. environment. 
• The project describes people in the past in ways that are respectful and accurate.
• The project explains the historical significance of the topic researched.

At the Moulton Museum, we believe one should dream big, persevere, work hard, care about people and community, and cherish the land and environment around you. Learn more at moultonmuseum.org​.

Please complete this Nomination form​ (one per entry).​ Nominations are​ due February 14, 2025.​

• Are you NHD alumni?
• Are you currently a Junior in college?
• Are you at least 18 years of age?
• Do you love history?

If you answered Yes to all of the above, you should apply for the NHD Internship during this year's National History Day Contest in College Park, Maryland.