world history association student essay competition

The World History Association bestows a number of awards, prizes, and scholarships to world history students, teachers, and researchers.

PIONEERS IN WORLD HISTORY AWARD

The annual Pioneers in World History Award , presented at the annual  WHA  conference, recognizes scholars’ exceptional contributions toward advancing the field of world history. The deadline for nominations is 15 March of each year.

PRIZE COMPETITIONS

World history association jerry h. bentley book prize.

The WHA Jerry H. Bentley Book Prize recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of world history. The deadline for submissions is 1 February of each year.

World History Association Dissertation Prize

The WHA Dissertation Prize is presented for the year’s best doctoral dissertation in world, global, or transnational history. The deadline for submissions is 1 October of each year.

World History Association / Phi Alpha Theta Undergraduate & Graduate Student Paper Prize

The WHA/ΦΑΘ Student Paper Prizes are awarded for the best undergraduate and best graduate-level world history papers composed in the academic year. The deadline for submissions has been extended through May 15, 2023.

World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition open to K–12  students. The deadline for submissions is 1 May of each year.

Bloomsbury-WHA Monograph Prize

The Diversity in History Monograph Prize improves publishing opportunities for early career scholars in World History.  The deadline is September 1 of each year. Follow this link for more information: WHA-Bloomsbury Monograph Prize.

World History Connected (WHC) Book Prize

The World History Connected (WHC) Book Prize recognizes publications of outstanding value to both research and teaching in the field of world history. This prize is funded through the generosity of Professor Emeritus and former WHA President Marc Jason Gilbert. The submission deadline is April 1 of each year. Follow this link for more information on the WHC Book Prize: WHC Book Prize .

SCHOLARSHIPS

The  WHA  offers  a number of scholarships  to attend the annual conference each year, including the  WHA  World Scholar Travel Fund (for scholars outside of North America) and the William H. McNeill Teacher Scholarship (for  K–12  and community college teachers) and conference fee waivers (for students).

WHA Bentley Book Prize

The World History Association Book Prize was created in 1999 to recognize outstanding contributions to the field of world history.

Congratulations to the inaugural WHA/Bloomsbury Book Prize award winner Dr. Corina Gonzalez-Stout of Northwest Vista College (San Antonio, TX) for her monograph Prostitution & Carnal Vigilance in Cape Town.

WHA Dissertation Prize

The World History Association awards the annual WHA Dissertation Prize for the best doctoral dissertation in world, global, or transnational history.

WHA Undergraduate & Graduate Student Paper Prizes

The World History Association and Phi Alpha Theta jointly sponsor two student paper prizes in world history

Congratulations to Joshua Hangartner of La Jolla Country Day School, the winner of the 2023 World Historian Student Essay Competition for his essay, "World History: A Vehicle for Understanding Ourselves."

Pioneers in World History Award

The Pioneers in World History Award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of individuals to world history studies that have advanced the field in a significant way.

World History Connected Book Prize

The World History Connected (WHC) Book Prize recognizes publications of outstanding value to both research and teaching in the field of world history.

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World History Association student essay contest

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Ms. Christine Hitchcock, Lead Social Studies Teacher

In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?

Can you express a clear thesis and support it with concrete, specific examples?

If so, you should consider entering the World History Association student essay competition!

Students who are currently enrolled in or who have completed World History 1 and/or 2 should consider entering this contest.

The winner will receive $500.00 and a one-year membership in the World History Association.

You can find more information about the contest on the  World History Association website.

I am happy to answer any questions or support anyone interested in participating in the contest. Email [email protected]

WORLD HISTORIAN STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

WORLD HISTORY ASSOCIATION

Sponsoring Institution:  World History Association

Type: World History Essay contest

Eligibility: This world history essay contest is open to students enrolled in grades K–12 from anywhere in the world

Application Deadline:  May 1st

Highlight: Does the study of World History intrigue you? Are you amazed by various cultures and traditions? Are you interested in different peoples’ stories and struggles? If you could answer yes to these questions, here’s an opportunity for you! The World History Association (WHA) is offering a prize of $500 and a one-year membership in the WHA to young scholars who have the best world history essay response to their prompt: “In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?”. This world history essay contest is global and is open to students enrolled in grades K-12, in public, private, and parochial schools, and even home-study programs! Now, let’s talk about the requirements. The submission deadline is early May, and the recommended length for submissions is 1000 words. The judges grade your world history essay based on a clear thesis, elaboration of the thesis with specific, personal, example(s), critical thinking, organization and fluency, and more! There are plenty of examples of previous winning essays from past years to review, and there are clear instructions on formatting as well. So, please read them thoroughly, because any papers that don’t adhere to the guidelines will be disqualified! So, bring your fascination with the past into the present and check it out ; show the WHA what you’ve got!

It is our anual free funding event for high schoolers from all over the world

Home Blog WORLD HISTORIAN STUDENT ESSAY COMPETITION

WORLD HISTORIAN STUDENT ESSAY COMPETITION

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international competition open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs. Membership in the World History Association is not a requirement for submission. Past winners may not compete in the same category again.

The World History Association established this $500 prize to recognize young scholars. A one-year membership in the WHA will also be included with each prize.

Each competitor will submit an essay that addresses the issue:  In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?

The committee will judge papers according to the following criteria:

• clear thesis;
• elaboration on the thesis with specific, concrete, personal example(s);
• evidence of critical-thinking, such as synthesis and evaluation, when reflecting on the essay question;
• organization and fluency; and
• overall effectiveness of the student’s ability to communicate his or her personal connection with the study of world history—in other words, how well has the student described the experience of being changed by a better understanding of world history?

To view some of our past winning essays, please click on the links below.

2019 Paper Prize Winner

2018 Paper Prize Winner

2017 Paper Prize Winner

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Length & format.

Length:  Submissions for the  K–12  World Historian Award should be approximately 1,000 words.

Formatting:  Number all pages except for the title page. All pages are to be double-spaced. Use 12-point Times New Roman Font. Margins are to be 1 inch left and right, and top and bottom.

Submissions must be composed in Microsoft Word.

The author’s identity is to appear nowhere on the paper.

A separate, unattached page should accompany the paper, identifying the author, title of paper, home address, telephone number, e-mail address, and name of school.

Papers that do not adhere to these guidelines will be disqualified.

Entries must be emailed or postmarked by the annual deadline of 1 May.

Winning papers will be announced during the summer.

The  WHA  reserves the right to publish in the  World History Bulletin  any essay (or portion thereof) submitted to the competition. It will do so solely at its discretion, but full acknowledgment of authorship will be given. If someone’s essay is published in whole or in part, the author will receive three (3) copies of the  Bulletin.

E-mail submission

Send the following materials as separate attachments (formatted in  MS  Word) in the same e-mail, with the subject line  World Historian Student Essay :

• the paper, and
• a page with identifying information (author, title of paper, home address, telephone number, e-mail address, and name of school).

E-mail to: Susan Smith < [email protected] >.

Postal submission

Send five copies of the paper and five copies of the page with identifying information. In the lower left hand corner on the front of the envelope write:  World Historian Student Essay.

Susan Smith Maple Grove Senior High 9800 Fernbrook Lane  N. Maple Grove,  MN  55369-9747

WORLD HISTORIAN STUDENT ESSAY COMPETITION COMMITTEE:

• Susan Smith, chair
• Paul Richgruber

PAST WINNERS

• Amanda Zhao, Pacific Ridge School (Carlsbad, CA) “History: An Ode to the Bricks of Progress”
• Akram Elkouraichi, Yonkers Middle High School (Yonkers, NY) “The Realization of Impermanence: Ephemerality in World History as a Conceptual Framework”
• Steven Chen, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School (Vancouver, BC, Canada) “A Human Story: World History as an Optimist”
• Juliana Boerema, Cary Christian School (Cary, North Carolina) “Brilliant Painting: How the Study of World History Changes Perspective”
• Ahmad Aamir, Lahore Grammar School (Lahore, Pakistan) “Learning from History: Cooperation, Belief, Scholarship, & Words”
• Vivian Liu, International School of Beijing (Beijing, China) “History: Bread of the World”
• Vanessa Yan, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School (Bradenton, Florida) “World History: The Great Macroscope”
• Rachel Hughes, Webber Academy (Calgary, Canada), “Fostering a Universal Understanding of World History is the Key to a Brighter Tomorrow”
• Campbell Munson, The Episcopal School of Dallas, “How History Has Affected My Worldview: Economies, Migration, Causality and Disease”
• Jacob Cooper, North Oconee High School (Bogart, Georgia), “World History: The Basis for Self-Determination, Democracy, and Religion“
• Luke J. Hamilton, Sword Academy (Bridgeport, Nebraska), “The Present: Living History”
• David Kim, Wydown Middle School ( St.  Louis), “History: The Shadow of the World”
• Elizabeth Mello, Dartmouth High School (Dartmouth, Massachusetts), “Out of Many Threads, One Cloth”

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The Best Student Writing Contests for 2023-2024

Help your students take their writing to the next level.

When students write for teachers, it can feel like an assignment. When they write for a real purpose, they are empowered! Student writing contests are a challenging and inspiring way to try writing for an authentic audience— a real panel of judges —and the possibility of prize money or other incentives. We’ve gathered a list of the best student writing contests, and there’s something for everyone. Prepare highly motivated kids in need of an authentic writing mentor, and watch the words flow.

1.  The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

With a wide range of categories—from critical essays to science fiction and fantasy—The Scholastic Awards are a mainstay of student contests. Each category has its own rules and word counts, so be sure to check out the options  before you decide which one is best for your students.

How To Enter

Students in grades 7-12, ages 13 and up, may begin submitting work in September by uploading to an online account at Scholastic and connecting to their local region. There are entry fees, but those can be waived for students in need.

2.  YoungArts National Arts Competition

This ends soon, but if you have students who are ready to submit, it’s worth it. YoungArts offers a national competition in the categories of creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word. Student winners may receive awards of up to $10,000 as well as the chance to participate in artistic development with leaders in their fields.

YoungArts accepts submissions in each category through October 13. Students submit their work online and pay a $35 fee (there is a fee waiver option).

3. National Youth Foundation Programs

Each year, awards are given for Student Book Scholars, Amazing Women, and the “I Matter” Poetry & Art competition. This is a great chance for kids to express themselves with joy and strength.

The rules, prizes, and deadlines vary, so check out the website for more info.

4.  American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest

If you’re looking to help students take a deep dive into international relations, history, and writing, look no further than this essay contest. Winners receive a voyage with the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, DC.

Students fill out a registration form online, and a teacher or sponsor is required. The deadline to enter is the first week of April.

5.  John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

This annual contest invites students to write about a political official’s act of political courage that occurred after Kennedy’s birth in 1917. The winner receives $10,000, and 16 runners-up also receive a variety of cash prizes.

Students may submit a 700- to 1,000-word essay through January 12. The essay must feature more than five sources and a full bibliography.

6. Bennington Young Writers Awards

Bennington College offers competitions in three categories: poetry (a group of three poems), fiction (a short story or one-act play), and nonfiction (a personal or academic essay). First-place winners receive $500. Grab a poster for your classroom here .

The contest runs from September 1 to November 1. The website links to a student registration form.

7. The Princeton Ten-Minute Play Contest

Looking for student writing contests for budding playwrights? This exclusive competition, which is open only to high school juniors, is judged by the theater faculty of Princeton University. Students submit short plays in an effort to win recognition and cash prizes of up to $500. ( Note: Only open to 11th graders. )

Students submit one 10-page play script online or by mail. The deadline is the end of March. Contest details will be published in early 2024.

8. Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students

The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize recognizes outstanding work by student writers in 11th grade. Prizes range from $100 to $500.

Students in 11th grade can submit their poetry. Contest details will be published this fall.

9. The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest

This contest is also a wonderful writing challenge, and the New York Times includes lots of resources and models for students to be able to do their best work. They’ve even made a classroom poster !

Submissions need to be made electronically by November 1.

10.  Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

The deadline for this contest is the end of October. Sponsored by Hollins University, the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest awards prizes for the best poems submitted by young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Prizes include cash and scholarships. Winners are chosen by students and faculty members in the creative writing program at Hollins.

Students may submit either one or two poems using the online form.

11.  The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers is open to high school sophomores and juniors, and the winner receives a full scholarship to a  Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop .

Submissions for the prize are accepted electronically from November 1 through November 30.

12. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

High school students can win up to $1,000 and publication by entering an essay on a topic specified by the Jane Austen Society related to a Jane Austen novel.

Details for the 2024 contest will be announced in November. Essay length is from six to eight pages, not including works cited.

13. Rattle Young Poets Anthology

Open to students from 15 to 18 years old who are interested in publication and exposure over monetary awards.

Teachers may choose five students for whom to submit up to four poems each on their behalf. The deadline is November 15.

14. The Black River Chapbook Competition

This is a chance for new and emerging writers to gain publication in their own professionally published chapbook, as well as $500 and free copies of the book.

There is an $18 entry fee, and submissions are made online.

15. YouthPlays New Voices

For students under 18, the YouthPlays one-act competition is designed for young writers to create new works for the stage. Winners receive cash awards and publication.

Scroll all the way down their web page for information on the contest, which accepts non-musical plays between 10 and 40 minutes long, submitted electronically. Entries open each year in January.

16. The Ocean Awareness Contest

The 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest, Tell Your Climate Story , encourages students to write their own unique climate story. They are asking for creative expressions of students’ personal experiences, insights, or perceptions about climate change. Students are eligible for a wide range of monetary prizes up to $1,000.

Students from 11 to 18 years old may submit work in the categories of art, creative writing, poetry and spoken word, film, interactive media and multimedia, or music and dance, accompanied by a reflection. The deadline is June 13.

17. EngineerGirl Annual Essay Contest

Each year, EngineerGirl sponsors an essay contest with topics centered on the impact of engineering on the world, and students can win up to $500 in prize money. This contest is a nice bridge between ELA and STEM and great for teachers interested in incorporating an interdisciplinary project into their curriculum. The new contest asks for pieces describing the life cycle of an everyday object. Check out these tips for integrating the content into your classroom .

Students submit their work electronically by February 1. Check out the full list of rules and requirements here .

18. NCTE Student Writing Awards

The National Council of Teachers of English offers several student writing awards, including Achievement Awards in Writing (for 10th- and 11th-grade students), Promising Young Writers (for 8th-grade students), and an award to recognize Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines.

Deadlines range from October 28 to February 15. Check out NCTE.org for more details.

19. See Us, Support Us Art Contest

Children of incarcerated parents can submit artwork, poetry, photos, videos, and more. Submissions are free and the website has a great collection of past winners.

Students can submit their entries via social media or email by October 25.

20. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose

The Adroit Journal, an education-minded nonprofit publication, awards annual prizes for poetry and prose to exceptional high school and college students. Adroit charges an entry fee but also provides a form for financial assistance.

Sign up at the website for updates for the next round of submissions.

21. National PTA Reflections Awards

The National PTA offers a variety of awards, including one for literature, in their annual Reflections Contest. Students of all ages can submit entries on the specified topic to their local PTA Reflections program. From there, winners move to the local area, state, and national levels. National-level awards include an $800 prize and a trip to the National PTA Convention.

This program requires submitting to PTAs who participate in the program. Check your school’s PTA for their deadlines.

22. World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international contest open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, as well as those in home-study programs. The $500 prize is based on an essay that addresses one of this year’s two prompts.

Students can submit entries via email or regular mail before May 1.

23. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

The National Society of High School Scholars awards three $2,000 scholarships for both poetry and fiction. They accept poetry, short stories, and graphic novel writing.

Apply online by October 31.

Whether you let your students blog, start a podcast or video channel, or enter student writing contests, giving them an authentic audience for their work is always a powerful classroom choice.

If you like this list of student writing contests and want more articles like it, subscribe to our newsletters to find out when they’re posted!

Plus, check out our favorite anchor charts for teaching writing..

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Best 2024 Competitions for Students in Grades K-12

Competitions in STEM, ELA and the arts, and more! Continue Reading

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ANNUAL STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST: ELIE WIESEL SAYS...

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Announcing the 2017 winners of our student essay contest! Read all the winning essays here!

Student Essay Contest Prompt

On July 2, 2016, activist, professor and Nobel Peace Prize-winning author Elie Wiesel passed away at the age of 87. Born into a Jewish family in a village in northwestern Romania, Wiesel found himself a target of the Nazi Final Solution while still only a teenager. Confined first to ghettos, Wiesel along with his whole family were then deported to the death camps at Auschwitz in 1944. The horrors that he witnessed and suffered at the hands of the Nazis in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, including the deaths of his sister, mother and father, Wiesel documented in his seminal autobiographical work, Night . Since its first publication, Night has been translated into over 30 languages and is regularly read by millions of students each year.

For his human rights activism and campaigns against worldwide genocide and violence, Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.

To commemorate the life, courage and achievements of Elie Wiesel, The National WWII Museum is asking middle and high school students to respond to a quote by Wiesel about his life and legacy.

For your essay, middle and high school students will each respond to a different quote by Elie Wiesel from your point of view as a young person coming of age in the twenty-first century. Do you agree or do you disagree with his view? Use the events of World War II and The Holocaust as your starting point, basing your essay in part on America’s involvement in the War. But don’t stop in the past. Use specific examples from your own experiences and/or current events to support your ideas. This is NOT a research paper, and the best essays will NOT be summaries of the past 70 years of American history or foreign policy. Your essay will be judged foremost for its originality, clarity of expression, and adherence to contest theme, as well as its historical accuracy, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Museum staff will read and evaluate entries.

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Young Historian Awards 2024 – take part (Secondary prizes)

History competition for students

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Young people researching and writing history – and getting recognised for it!

Researching, writing and presenting ideas about a historical theme or period is one of the best parts about studying history. We want young school and college aged students to get the bug for writing about history in an incisive, interesting and critical way.

That is why each year the Historical Association in collaboration with the Spirit of Normandy Trust has organised a series of awards for outstanding history scholarship. Young people aged from 11-19 years are asked to investigate, analyse and write about history. The subject categories cover local history, the modern world and especially aspects of 20th-century history. 

These awards and the partnership of over 25 years hope to encourage and produce the historians of the future as well as engaging young people with meaningful historical questions and issues of local interest.

So if you think you or your students could be the next Margaret MacMillan or Anthony Beevor, get thinking about the questions and subjects that matter and that meet the questions and topics below.

For the Primary competition see here

The closing date for entries is 20 July 2024 (1 July for overseas entries). 

Please note: entries supplied by under 16s must be sent by a parent or teacher.

Young Historian Prizes in 2024

• The Rev John Louis Petit Award (essay competition) – see below for details
• Spirit of Normandy Trust Prize for GCSE/A Level students: for individual work on any aspect of British involvement in the Second World War. 
• Spirit of Normandy Trust Prize for Key Stage 3: for individual work on any aspect of British involvement in the Second World War
• GCSE World War 1 Prize: for individual work on any aspect of the First World War
• Key Stage 3 World War 1 Prize: for any individual work on the First World War
• GCSE Modern World Prize: for individual work on any aspect of the Modern World
• 16-19 Local History Prize for Schools and Colleges: for individual personal enquiries into Local History
• GCSE Local History Prize: for individual work on a Local History theme
• Key Stage 3 Local History Prize: for individual work on any Local History theme
• Mid-Trent Historical Association Prize for the Best Secondary School History Magazine

The purpose of these Prizes is to encourage you to think, research and frame your own questions that you will answer from further reading and research. This might be the result of a piece of work your teacher has set you to do at home during the current situation, or it may be a piece of research you are carrying out for your own interest. It is also an opportunity to perhaps tell some of the untold stories around the themes. Good luck!

Rev John Louis Petit Award

The Rev Petit Society are once again funding an essay competition within the Young Historian Awards for work connected to the life and work of the Rev John Louis Petit (1801-1868).

Petit was an important 19th-century artist and architectural commentator. Essentially an impressionistic artist, his artistic legacy amounted to approximately 14,000 water colours and sketches.

His work can be explored on www.revpetit.com but interested schools will be given, on request, a copy of an informative and illustrated book – Petit’s Tours of Old Staffordshire –  the contents of which extend much further afield, within the Midlands but also nationally and internationally. Images of Petit pictures, churches and secular structures near to a school will be supplied.

Entries with a substantial focus on Petit’s work will be assessed by the regular Young Historian judging panel. The prize will be £40.00 for the winning student and £40.00 for their school.

Enquiries about these Prizes are most welcome and further particulars can be obtained from:

The Young Historian Project, 36 Heritage Court, Lichfield Staffordshire WS14 9ST.

Or phone to discuss the details with Dr Trevor James on 01543 258434.

The closing date for entries is 20 July 2024 (1 July for overseas entries). If you would like to submit your entry by email please send it to [email protected]  including details of which prize you are submitting for, the entrant name, date of birth, entrant's postal address and school name/address.

• Young Historian Awards - find out more

La Jolla student wins international essay competition with belief that world history aids self-awareness

Joshua Hangartner of La Jolla Country Day School captures the 2023 World Historian Essay Award.

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Weaving one’s own history into that of the world might seem daunting for some, but it’s proved to be a winning strategy for La Jolla resident Joshua Hangartner.

Joshua, who will be a senior next school year at La Jolla Country Day School, recently won the 2023 World Historian Essay Award presented by the World History Association for his 1,000-word essay titled “World History: A Vehicle for Understanding Ourselves.”

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international contest open to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Entrants were asked to address their view of a family story related to a historical event or personal family cultural background, or an issue of personal relevance or specific regional history or knowledge.

Joshua wrote his essay about “human convergence and globalization,” applying it to his own family’s history.

“World History’s immense scope allows students to draw connections between ... seemingly unrelated historical events,” Joshua wrote. “Through contextualization, students grasp broad and pervasive historical themes which help explain the present state of our world and often our own lives.

“In addition to learning about Asian history outside of a Eurocentric framework, World History taught me to observe broader patterns in human migration and societal development.”

The essay “really covers a lot about who I am,” Joshua told the La Jolla Light.

“I’m mixed Korean American and European,” he said. “I always thought it was so bizarre how these different sides of my family were so different and how in just one generation, everything changed and I’m living a completely different life from them.”

In the essay, Joshua wrote, “I cannot help but feel that my multiracial, multiethnic and multicultural background is the ‘result’ of a thousand years of … increasing worldwide interconnectedness.”

“World history, as opposed to more specific history, has really provided that lens from that largest theme of convergence,” he told the Light .

“I’m mixed Korean American and European. I always thought it was so bizarre how these different sides of my family were so different and how in just one generation, everything changed and I’m living a completely different life from them.”

— Joshua Hangartner

As a former resident of Amsterdam who attended an international school there, global convergence is an idea Joshua has always paid attention to, he said.

“That really opened my eyes to the international community and people from all kinds of different backgrounds and cultures,” Joshua said. “I really gained a greater perception of my own culture and … all these different facets of my identity.

“I found it super interesting that at this international school, all these different cultures and people converged.”

Living now with his Korean grandfather is inspiring as well, Joshua said. “Being able to see that history in him” also influenced the essay.

Joshua entered the competition after searching online for writing opportunities.

“I really like history as a subject,” he said.

Samuel Kullens, his Advanced Placement world history teacher the past school year, “taught me a lot of things that I thought I could apply to the essay,” Joshua added. And Fiona Halloran, who taught him American Civil War history this past year and AP U.S. history in his sophomore year, “influenced my writing and historical thinking a lot,” he said.

Joining the list of winners from around the world is surprising, Joshua said, but he “felt amazing because I had just written the paper on a whim … the last day it was due.”

Joshua said he plans to keep cultivating his love of history through high school and into college. ◆

Elisabeth Frausto is a reporter for the La Jolla Light.

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10 History Competitions for High School Students

Are you in high school and looking to participate in a history competition? Check out this curated list below of opportunities from across the country!

Competing and performing well in a history competition can offer valuable exposure by indicating your interest in the subject of history to potential colleges. Competitions also grant the opportunity to improve one’s skills in writing, public speaking, or debate , for example. Additionally, you can also choose to conduct independent research on various topics that come under the umbrella of history, and publish them in prestigious journals like the Concord Review !

Below are 10 history competitions to consider, some of which are offered in the summer and others during the school year. The programs range from live quiz competitions to essay competitions to oratory contests , so there is something for everyone!

We’ve also covered some great history programs in this blog, and research ideas in history here !

1. International History Olympiad

One of the most popular competitions at the high school level, the International History Olympiad is a competition attended by hundreds of students from all over the world. The multi-day series of events features numerous competitions (as well as non-competitive events) that offer many opportunities for students to win awards and connect with other individuals. The Olympiad takes place in a new location around the world each year (with past editions being held at Honolulu, Berlin, Rome), deeming it also a great opportunity to take advantage of in terms of international travel. Qualification is conducted through participation in regional, national, and international qualifying events.

Application Deadline: July 2024

Location: TBD, 2023’s competition took place in Rome

Prizes: Prizes vary by rank and competition

Eligibility: All high school students are eligible through participation in regional, national, and international qualifying events

2. The National History Bee

This popular competition takes place on an annual basis in the capital of the United States. In order to qualify for participation at the national level of the competition, students must advance beyond rounds at the local and state levels in their respective districts. The History Bee is a buzzer-based history quiz that occurs at the individual level, without the help of teammates. Students compete 1-1 over many rounds where they answer paragraph-long questions about various historical topics . Visit the National History Bee’s website to learn more about specific competition rules and formatting. This is a very esteemed competition where you can network with other students, learn more about historical facts, and impress colleges.

Application Deadline: TBA

Location: Washington, DC and Arlington, VA

Eligibility: All high school students younger than 19 years old: Varsity (11th and 12th grade), Junior Varsity (9th or 10th grade)

3. Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest

This contest is offered by The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and is an oration competition. Each participant must draft and present an original oration between five to six minutes in length . Then, students must deliver the oration from memory without notes or props. The topic must be an event, personality, or document related to the Revolutionary War. The oration must also show a relation between the chosen topic and America today. This is a great way to simultaneously develop public speaking and writing skills!

Students must get through preliminary local rounds, state levels, and then advance to the national level at which place scholarships and prizes are awarded. The orations are evaluated on composition, delivery, significance, historical accuracy, and other secondary criteria. Winners on the national level in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place receive cash prizes, as well as an Olympic-sized medal.

Application Deadline: TBA, varying by state and SAR chapter

Location: Virtual

Prizes: Varying cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners

Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12th

4. George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest

Offered by The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), this essay competition invites students to submit an 800-1,200 word essay. The essay needs to be based on an event, person, philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution , Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the U.S Constitution. Essays will be judged on historical accuracy, clarity, organization, grammar, spelling, and documentation.

Like other competitions offered by the SAR, the contest is conducted in stages on the local, state, and national level. Contact your local chapter to enter into the competition. All essays must additionally include a title page, bibliography page, and a biography page. The prizes vary for the top 5 essay writers. However, the first place winning essay will be submitted in the SAR magazine and will have an opportunity to visit Washington, D,C. This is a great opportunity to strengthen one’s ability to conduct research and synthesize historical information .

Location: Virtual, through each SAR chapter

Prizes: Varying cash prizes for winners at each tier

5. The National History Day National Contest

The National Contest of National History Day is a massive gathering of nearly 3,000 individuals offered annually by the organization to student scholars and their families. National History Day invites successful winners of local and affiliate contests to share their research and other history-related work widely. Beyond competing in a variety of competitions, partnerships with local museums and cultural institutions offer students dynamic programming and professional development opportunities .

The gathering takes place in Maryland for a week-long series of events inviting students from all across the U.S., and the world. Students can also take the competition as a chance to explore Washington, D.C and benefit from the plethora of historical sites at the nation’s capital. This is a fantastic opportunity! To compete on such a national level is an amazing opportunity and very impressive feat that is sure to demonstrate your passion for history and historical reasoning to colleges.

Application Deadline: June 9-13, 2024

Location: University of Maryland, College Park

Prizes: Varying prizes per category of the competition

Eligibility: All high school students, teachers and parents are also invited

6. The National History Bowl

In a similar fashion to The National History Bee, The National History Bowl is offered once a year in the nation’s capitol to students who have advanced past local, regional, and state History Bowl competitions. The format is a buzzer-based history quiz with teams of up to 6 students . Students seek to answer questions faster than their opponents about topics covering: the history of the arts, sciences, religion, philosophy, language, historical geography, recent history, and even a bit of the history of sports and entertainment. Questions can reference all eras of history in all geographic regions of the world . Check out their website for specific information about the tournament format and how to advance in each round.

Note : We’ve covered the competition in depth here !

Application Deadline: TBD

7. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Offered by the World History Association, this international contest asks students to address a historical topic and its relation to student’s personal lives and world history at large. An example of a past paper topic is: “My ancestor walked with Abraham Lincoln from Illinois to fight in the Black Hawk War of 1832." The essays are judged based on the thesis, evidence of critical-thinking, organization, and other criteria. Overall, this written competition is a pretty good opportunity to assess your writing ability from a renowned organization in the discipline of history.

Application Deadline: May 1, 2024

Prizes: $500 Prize and a one year membership to the World History Association

Eligibility: An international competition for students in grades K-12

8. The American History Essay Contest

Presented by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), this essay competition seeks to introduce younger students to employ creativity in thinking about the history of the United States . The DAR set out a unique topic for each competition cycle and the submissions are judged for historical accuracy, topic adherence, organization of materials, originality, and writing quality. The essays are evaluated on a local, state, divisional, and national level. The contest is carried out through participating chapters of the DAR organization.

Application Deadline: Varies, contact your local DAR chapter

Prizes: Certificate of participation for each student and varying medals and awards for winners at each division (local, state. national)

Eligibility: Students in 9th-12th grade

9. Write Your Own Historical Fiction Competition

The Write Your Own Historical Fiction Competition is offered by The Historical Association each year to students across the world. Although varying by year, the organization typically does not assign a firm theme for the entries to the competition. The essays, ranging from 400 to 3500 words, are evaluated for their historical accuracy, convincing storytelling, effective use of historical vocabulary, and creativity. Do note that entries must be submitted by a teacher on behalf of a school.

Although the competition’s premise is a bit unconventional for a history competition, this contest offers students a unique opportunity to channel their creativity through the lens of an important academic subject . This will prove very beneficial when writing applications to colleges, or other writing endeavors at large.

Application Deadline: TBA, likely June 2024

Prizes: Cash awards for winners as well as a specially-designed notebook

Eligibility: Students in Years 5-13. Internationally

10. The David McCullough Essay Prize

Named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, this essay competition offered by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History , recognizes outstanding high school student research essays each year. Essays for the competition (between 1,500-2,000 words) are required to center primary source analysis of a document in American history from 1493 to 2000. This is a solid opportunity to conduct historical research very similar to collegiate writing , with citations, a bibliography and secondary sources attached.

Prizes: Cash awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and a certificate of participation for all students

Eligibility: Students in 10th-12th grade part of the National Academy of American History and Civics

If you are interested in doing university-level research in history and politics, then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for high school students. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Aisha is a student at Princeton University, studying Anthropology and Global Health. On campus, she is involved with student groups centered around health equity and cultural affinity. In her free time, she enjoys podcasting, learning languages, and trying new recipes.

Image Source: National History Bowl logo

Publications

The WHA has several outlets for publication, including the  Journal of World History,  the  World History Bulletin, and the WHA -affiliated publications World History Connected and Middle Ground.

Journal of World History

Founded by Jerry Bentley and now in its 30th year, The Journal of World History   publishes research into historical questions across any time period requiring the investigation of evidence on a global, comparative, cross-cultural, or transnational scale. It is devoted to the study of phenomena that transcend the boundaries of single states, regions, or cultures, such as large-scale population movements, long-distance trade, cross-cultural technology transfers, and the global spread of ideas. It engages with the historiographical, theoretical, and methodological approaches to world history, conceived broadly. Along with individual articles based on original research, JWH publishes state of the field pieces, thematic special issues, considerations of pedagogy, topical special forums, and book reviews.

The Journal of World History is published by the University of Hawai‘i Press, and manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s website: https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/product/jwh/ . The book review office, under the direction of JWH’s editor Matthew Romaniello, is at Weber State University. Books appropriate for JWH to review should be sent to:

Dr. Matthew Romaniello Journal of World History Book Reviews Department of History 1299 Edvalson St. Dept 1205 Ogden, Utah 84408-1205

World History Bulletin

The World History Bulletin is a biannual publication of the World History Association.  Featuring short-form essays (roughly 1,500–3,000 words in length), the Bulletin is a forum devoted to raising interesting questions, stimulating lively debate, and engaging with all aspects of world historical scholarship including pedagogy, research, and theory. Topics may include any period or geographic focus in history.  Pedagogical materials such as syllabi or assignments are welcome, as are reviews of books or other scholarly works.

Submissions for the World History Bulletin should be in Microsoft Word or similar electronic format, and should follow the style guidelines of the  Journal of World History described above. Please address any submissions or inquiries to Editor-in-Chief Joseph Snyder < [email protected] >.  Historians and disciplinarily allied scholars interested in guest-editing a selection of essays on a particular theme are strongly encouraged to contact the editor.

The Fall 2022 World History Bulletin (WHB) will be entitled “Comics and Graphic Novels in the World History Classroom”.  This issue is being guest edited by WHA Vice President, Trevor Getz.  Please email the Editor at [email protected] .  Interested in submitting?  View our style guide here: WHB Style Sheet .

Back issues of the World History Bulletin are available for download.

WHB , see the advertising rate sheet ( PDF ) . -->

World History Connected

World History Connected ,  a journal of world history teaching, gladly welcomes submissions including (a) essays on the state of the field; (b) topical overviews which cross regional boundaries to examine such issues as gender, technology, demography, social structure, or political legitimacy; (c) scholarship which rigorously engages global themes; (d) evaluation of curriculum; and (e) “point–counterpoint” essays presenting two or more perspectives on contentious issues. We are also looking for scholars to review recently published titles in the field of world history.

All submissions are double-blind peer reviewed. To submit an article, please send an abstract or completed essay to editor Marc Jason Gilbert <[email protected]> . For matters of style and format, please follow the guidelines outlined in the  style sheet . Deadlines are as follows: 15 July for the fall issue, 15 November for the winter, and 15 March for the spring.

Middle Ground Journal

The Middle Ground Journal: World History and Global Studies (ISSN: 2155-1103) is an open-access, non-profit, peer-reviewed academic journal for everyone with an interest in world history, including students. In particular, the journal, which is edited by members of the Midwest World History Association , seeks to serve as the shared, common space between world history in the K–12 institutions and world history in the colleges and universities.  Middle Ground  invites submissions of articles and essays as well as nonfiction, fiction, film, and television reviews. It also publishes reviews of textbooks and reflective presentations of teaching materials. Submissions will be accepted on a continual basis. Please see the journal’s site for the submission guidelines. All enquiries should be directed to the chief editor, Professor Jeanne Grant <[email protected]> .

H-WORLD is the primary listserv for the world history community and fosters discussion and news items of interest to the community. To post to H-WORLD, please send your information to editor Christoph Strobel <[email protected]> .

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