Hunterdon County students~Let’s get creative about history!
Two Hunterdon County organizations are seeking entries to this year’s History Challenge, where local students can earn awards and cash prizes for projects about America’s past.
Submit an original essay, poem, painting, drawing or other artwork, music, lyrics, dance routine, skit, sculpture, science, or sewing project. The competition is open to all Hunterdon County, NJ, students up through high school. Deadline is December 31. At first, this competition was for essays only, but the success of the Broadway show “Hamilton” led to including musical and dramatic performances, videos, and other creative ideas. It is sponsored by the Hunterdon County Historical Society and the local chapter of the Sons of the Revolution.
CATEGORIES
Prizes will be awarded to Hunterdon students or homeschoolers in three categories:
- $250 for an original essay of 800 to 1,200 words on any aspect of American history by a Hunterdon County student or homeschooler of high school age.
- $250 for an original essay of 800 to 1,200 words on any aspect of American history by a Hunterdon student or homeschooler of pre-high-school age.
- $250 for an original expression of any sort about American history by a Hunterdon student or homeschooler of any age up through high school. We encourage musical performances and compositions; orations, dances, dramas, or comedies; paintings, drawings; skits, video presentations or performances; poems, calligraphy, sculpture, sewing, and more. In short, almost anything. (Except AI-generated projects, which do not qualify. This entry must be YOUR work alone!)
JUDGING CRITERIA
Judges will assess historical accuracy, quality of work, and audience appeal. Extra credit will be awarded for entries that include identifiable Hunterdon County themes, incidents, sites, or people. A solid bibliography will help.
DETAILS
The deadline is December 31, but entries will be accepted starting September 1.
Entries must include your home address, municipality, written permission from parent or guardian, parental email, parental phone number, student’s name, age, and grade or grade equivalent. Also, permission to interview you about your work (with parent present) and to publish photographs, videos, and articles about you and your project.
Each entry should include an explanatory note about how and why it was produced. (What does it mean to you? What do you hope others will get from it?)
Winners will be announced and awards given early next year. They will be recognized and may be published in the Historical Society newsletter and website, other publications and websites. Art and performances may be displayed online or at sites such as Flemington’s DIY space.
HOW TO ENTER
- Download the form and open in the Adobe Acrobat Reader. (It’s free!) https://get.adobe.com/
reader/ - Type your information into the fields.
- Sign the form using the pen tool on the left.
- Save it as a pdf.
- Email – as attachments – your entry form, author/artist statement, and entry document or photo to hunterdonhistorychall
enge@gmail.com. - Or print the form to complete it by hand.
Fill out application form with parental permissions, parental contact details, and a note about your topic and its medium. To submit videos of musical or dramatic performances, email hunterdonhistorychallenge@gmail.com for a Dropbox link.
For other questions, contact Jay Langley at langleys401@earthlink.net or call 908.782.1676 (no texts please). Or contact Dave Harding, administrator of the Hunterdon County Historical Society, at 908.782.1091 or hunterdonhistoryadm@gmail.com.