Special Awards
NHD-SD's community partners sponsor a wide range of Special Awards each year. Many of these awards offer cash or other prizes. Not all awards listed are given each year.
2024 SELF-NOMINATIONS
Three of this year's awards (listed first on page) require students to complete a self-nomination Google Form. A link to the form will follow the award's description.
Deadline to self-nominate: 5 PM Monday, February 26, 2024
Economics Award
Sponsored by: San Diego Center for Economic Education (CCEE)
Awarded to projects with outstanding research, analysis, and presentation of economic principles.
A People's History
Sponsored by: Los Monos Baseball Club of San Diego
Awarded to projects that uncover the lesser known people and events in history and highlights their contributions.
San Diego County Libraries' Research Award
Sponsored by: San Diego County Librarians
Awarded to projects demonstrating depth and breadth of research using library resources.
Note: Restricted to junior individual and senior individual exhibits, senior individual websites, and senior individual documentaries.
New: Best Use of Graphical Arts
Sponsored by: Professor Elizabeth Pollard from SDSU’s History Department
Award given to projects that best use cartoons/comics/other graphical arts as historical sources in the research and development of the project.
Air & Space History Award
Sponsored by: San Diego Air & Space Museum
Awarded to projects that best exemplifies leadership in air and space history.
All-American Sports Award
Sponsored by: James Dowling
Awarded to projects in any category that take an historical look at the all-American sport of baseball. Other sports may be considered.
Award for Outstanding Historical Performance
Sponsored by: Given In Honor of Cassandra Davis by Nicole Carnation Grolman
Awarded to an outstanding performance at the junior or senior level.
Best Use of Primary Sources
Sponsored by: San Diego History Center
Awarded to projects that emphasizes the variety and analysis of primary sources used in the research and development of the project.
Celebrating Art in History Award
Sponsored by: Amy Rodriguez
Awarded to projects that highlight how the arts have influenced societies and changed history
First Timer's Award
Sponsored by: Francis Parker History Day Club
Awarded to and honoring those students and schools who have entered NHD-SD for the first time this year and have gone above and beyond first year expectations!
Judges' Choice Award
Sponsored by: NHD-SD
Awarded to projects identified by NHD-SD judges that stand out to them, ones that inspire the judges by the students' passion for their topics, creativity, connection of topics to families/personal lives, presence, preparation, and interviews.
Minority Group Accomplishments Through Diversity Award in Honor of Valerie Grayson
Sponsored by: Black American Political Association of California
Awards will be presented to students in the Poster categories for projects that illustrate accomplishments and/or struggles of a minority group and recognizes the importance of a diverse population.
Outstanding Projects in American History
Sponsored by: Colonial Dames: Daughters of the American Colonists; DAR; Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America; US Daughters of 1812
Awarded to projects that demonstrate meritorious work in US History.
Pre- 1500 World History Award
Sponsored by: Professor Elizabeth Pollard from SDSU’s History Department
Awarded to projects that best exemplifies world history before 1500
Science or Medicine in History Award
Sponsored by: Mel/Ghosh/Behling/Hansen Group
Awarded to a project that demonstrates excellence in the research and analysis of the place of science or medicine in history.
US Foreign Relations Award
Sponsored by: SDSU History Department Pierre Asselin
Awarded to a project that best exemplifies US foreign relations
USS Midway Living Symbol of Freedom Award
Sponsored by: USS Midway Museum
Awarded to projects about any individual, group, place, or symbol that represents freedom.
Women of Character Award
Sponsored by: San Diego Women’s Museum
Awarded to projects that highlight the importance of women in history.