Young historians from across the state gathered at the North Carolina Museum of History this spring for the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association (THJHA) Annual Convention. The all-day event featured dynamic learning experiences that help young people appreciate and understand North Carolina’s rich history and recognized the junior historians for their impactful historical work on projects.
Jessica Pratt, the museum’s education section chief, shared at this year’s event that “the power of the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association extends beyond the North Carolina Museum of History to classrooms, homes, and communities across our state. It comes from the work and study of North Carolina history by junior historians and the ways they share that history with others. This year’s contest entries are a testament to those efforts and are an inspiration for the future of THJHA and our state history museum.”
Students and clubs were recognized for outstanding projects submitted in THJHA contests. All winning projects, which include artifacts, visual arts, photography, and creative writing, will be displayed through Oct. 6 in the first-floor lobby of the museum.
On May 1, the museum announced the upcoming redesign of the museum and exhibits. To prepare for the renovation, the first-floor exhibits and the physical museum building will close Oct. 7, 2024. The renovation is anticipated to last two to three years.
Authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1953, the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association is sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The association is made up of a network of FREE clubs across the state, with members in grades 4–12. Each club must have at least one adult adviser. In addition to participating in the annual contests and Annual Convention, club members can receive free copies of Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine written just for students.
Clubs may be sponsored by public, private, or home schools or by other organizations such as museums and historical societies, 4-H groups, Boy Scouts, or Girl Scouts. Clubs can be any size, from one student and one adviser to hundreds of students and several advisers. Clubs must renew their membership each school year, and new clubs can join at any time using an online application at tarheeljuniorhistorians.org.
Student, Chapter, and Adviser THJHA Award Winners
Awards are given for outstanding THJHA chapters and advisers and student projects. Competition categories include media, art, literary, and essays, an artifact search, photography projects, and a state history quiz. Both groups and individuals received awards.
CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
The 2024 Chapter of the Year Award goes to the Colonial Bears from the Epiphany School of Global Studies in New Bern, Laura Smith, adviser, New Bern, Craven County.
ADVISER OF THE YEAR
The 2024 Adviser of the Year is Henry Herbert of the RMA Junior Historians, Rocky Mount Academy, Nash County.
ROOKIE CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
The 2024 Rookie Chapter of the Year Award goes to the Oak and Magnolia Junior Historians, Oak and Magnolia Homeschool, Northampton County.
Buncombe County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winner from Renyolds Mountain Christian Academy
Madelyn Rice was an Artifact Search winner for her submission, Biltmore Dairy Farms Bottle.
Craven County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winner from Epiphany School of Global Studies
The Colonial Bears won first place in the group elementary division of the Creative Writing Contest for their submission of St. Cyprian’s New Bern Fire.
Winners from Peluso Christian Academy
Elizabeth Peluso won second place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Institutional/Public Buildings category, for her submission, New Bern Academy.
Matthew Peluso won first place in the secondary division, fall 2024 prompt, in the THJH Magazine Article Contest for his article, Hogging the Market.
Winners from Saint Paul Catholic School
Charles Blake won second place in the intermediate division of the Christopher Crittenden State History Quiz.
Ryan Blout won first place in the elementary division of the Christopher Crittenden State History Quiz.
Hayden Brock won first place in the intermediate division of the Christopher Crittenden State History Quiz.
Chatham County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winners from NC Homeschool Adventures
Elijah Cunningham won first place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Monuments/Markers category, for his submission, Benjamin Johnson.
Barnaby Shedor won first place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Houses category, for his submission, The Rockefeller House.
Heidi Young won second place in the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for her submission, The Morgan Shaft at Reed Gold Mine.
The History Hounds of Central Carolina received recognition for their History in Action Project, Lee County Historical Markers.
Davie County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winner from North Davie Middle School
Caylee Barrett was an Artifact Search winner for her submission, Cheerwine Bottle.
Seth Postell won first place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Barns/Outbuildings category, for his submission, WinMock Barn.
Ellie Wallace won second place in the individual intermediate division of the Creative Writing Contest for her submission, Babe Ruth’s First Home Run.
Moore County 2024 THJHA Winners
North Moore High School Winners
The Mustang Historians received recognition for their History in Action project, Elise Academy.
Nash County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winners from Rocky Mount Academy
Ada Dunton won first place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Institutional/Public Buildings category, for her submission, Booker T. Washington High School.
Ben York won first place in the intermediate division, spring 2025 prompt, in the THJH Magazine Article Contest for his article, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Rocky Mount Speech.
The RMA Junior Historians won second place in the group intermediate division of the Creative Writing Contest for their submission, Soul City. They also received recognition for their History in Action Project, The Colorful Life of Thomas A. Morgan.
Northampton County 2024 THJHA Winner
Winner from Oak and Magnolia Homeschool
Damon Johnson won first place in the individual elementary division of the Video Documentary Contest for his submission, The History of the Wright Brothers.
Orange County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winners from St. Thomas More Catholic School
Megan Lesesky won second place in the elementary division, fall 2024 prompt, in the THJH Magazine Article Contest for her article, Plott Hound.
Alli Peete won first place in the elementary division, fall 2024 prompt, in the THJH Magazine Article Contest for her article, State Horse: The Colonial Spanish Mustang.
Surry County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winners from Mount Airy Museum of Regional History
James Caudill won first place in the individual secondary division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for his submission, The North Carolina Granite Corporation.
Madeline Caudill won second place in the individual secondary division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for her submission, Doing Their Part.
The Jesse Franklin Pioneers won first place in the group elementary and intermediate divisions of the Exhibit & Visual Arts contest for their submission, George Fawcett and the UFO Museum and Earnhardt Family Racing Legacy at Daytona. They also won first place in the group intermediate division of the Video Documentary Contest with their submission, Home Town Homicides. The Jesse Franklin Pioneers received recognition for their History in Action project, The William Alfred Moore House.
Wake County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winners from Brooks Museums Magnet Elementary School
Garrett Havener won second place in the individual elementary division of the Creative Writing Contest for his submission, Sgt. Ryan.
The Brooks Museums Magnet Curator Club won second place in the group elementary division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts contest for their submission, Trail of Tears.
Winners from Fletcher Academy
Addy Dalfonso was an Artifact Search winner for her submission, Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Puck.
Joe Suhajcik-DeMarchi won first place in the individual intermediate division of the Creative Writing Contest for his submission, Larry Rhodes. He also won second place in the NC Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Commercial/Industrial Buildings category, for his submission, Capital Bank Plaza.
Landon Tillery won second place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Monuments/Markers category, for his submission, Martin Luther Visits North Carolina.
Paisley Miller won second place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Houses category, for her submission, Hastings House.
Nolan Williamson won first place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Commercial/Industrial Buildings category, for his submission, Mitchner Train Station.
The TFA NC Explorers won first place in the group intermediate division of the Creative Writing Contest for their submission, Mordecai House People. They also won second place in the group intermediate division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for their submission, Biscuitville.
Winners from Underwood GT Magnet Elementary School
Chance Hamner won first place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Architectural Details category, for The Temple of Israel Synagogue.
Greg Loyek won first place in the individual elementary division of the Creative Writing Contest for his submission Camp Craggy.
Wilson County 2024 THJHA Winners
Winners from Greenfield School
Lucy Clayton won first place in the individual elementary division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for her submission, Lifesaving Stations.
Blythe Gibson won first place in the individual intermediate division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for her submission, The Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain.
Caroline Mury won second place in the individual elementary division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for her submission, Graveyard of the Atlantic.
About the NC Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, fosters a passion for North Carolina history. This museum collects and preserves artifacts of state history and educates the public on the history of the state and the nation through exhibits and educational programs. Admission is free. In 2023, more than 355,000 people visited the museum to see some of the 150,000 artifacts in the museum collection. The Museum of History, within the Division of State History Museums, is part of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
About the Smithsonian Affiliations Network
Since 2006, the North Carolina Museum of History has been a Smithsonian Affiliate, part of a select group of museums and cultural, educational, and arts organizations that share Smithsonian resources with the nation. The Smithsonian Affiliations network is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums and other educational and cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian resources. More information is available at affiliations.si.edu.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina—its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages more than 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the NC Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the NC Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the NC Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit dncr.nc.gov