State Funding for NHD!

We are thrilled to announce that $50,000 for National History Day (NHD) in Massachusetts is included in the FY23 budget! The 100% increase to support NHD in Massachusetts (up from $25,000 in FY22) is exciting and timely news as we prepare to strengthen the NHD program this fall and continue rebuilding the program post-Covid.

External funding for NHD makes it possible to:

• Reduce or eliminate registration fees for students
• Offer high-quality online resources and teacher professional development
• Help schools and districts rebuild their program after the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic
• Increase our outreach to make NHD accessible to grade 6–12 students across the Commonwealth

We're grateful to Senator Paul Feeney and Representative Peter Capano for continuing to champion History Day on Beacon Hill and sponsoring our amendments. And we want to give a huge THANK YOU to all of you for calling, e-mailing, and tweeting about why NHD is important to you and to the students and teachers in your district! Please consider writing to your legislators to thank them, especially if you received a response to your advocacy this spring.

Thank you again for your advocacy! We're looking forward to seeing everyone soon for NHD 2023, "Frontiers in History"!

Ms. Suzanne Zmijewski Lim of Chenery Middle School in Belmont named 2021 National History Day Teacher of the Year

BOSTON (June 2021)—The Massachusetts Historical Society is pleased to announce that Ms. Suzanne Zmijewski Lim, an eighth grade teacher at Winthrop L. Chenery Middle School in Belmont, Massachusetts, won the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award for the junior division (grades 6-8) of the 2021 National History Day Contest. The award is sponsored by Patricia Behring in recognition of the pivotal role teachers play in the lives of students. As the winner of this award, Mrs. Lim will receive $10,000.

Each of the 58 National History Day affiliates could nominate one middle school teacher for this award, and Ms. Zmijewski was the nominee from Massachusetts. Ms. Zmijewski Lim has been teaching National History Day students and teachers for 26 years. Over the course of her career, she has both inspired and witnessed the powerful impact NHD has made on her students.

“Sue is an exceptionally talented teacher, admired by colleagues, administration, and students alike,” said Dr. Elyssa Tardif, Director of Education at the Massachusetts Historical Society. “Her warmth and guidance are remembered by students years after they’ve left her classroom. In fact, one past NHD student wrote: ‘your class as well as the whole NHD experience helped me love learning and believe in myself more.’ Sue embodies the best of what NHD teachers can offer students, and we are incredibly proud to have her representing the entire NHD in Massachusetts program.”

“Ms. Zmijewski Lim is such an important asset and advocate for her students and colleagues,” said Dr. Cathy Gorn, National History Day Executive Director. “She challenges her students to embrace the full breadth of historical research and critical analysis, and she changes lives. I congratulate Ms. Zmijewski Lim for winning this award, and offer my thanks for her many years of dedication to teaching the valuable skills of NHD.”

Ms. Zmijewski Lim was presented this award during National History Day’s livestreamed National Contest Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 19, 2021. The annual competition and ceremony took place as scheduled this year, but were conducted remotely due to COVID-19 safety measures.