Special Awards

New Jersey History Day's Special Awards program honors students who have presented an exceptional project on a specific topic. In 2026, we are pleased to partner with the following organizations to offer a Special Award: 

• Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh - Essex 
• Morristown Chapter, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Maritime Historical Society
• New Jersey Amistad Commission
• New Jersey Historical Commission

For an overview of each award, please click here to download award descriptions.

Sponsor a Special Award

Would you like to introduce your organization to a motivated group of student scholars and their families?

The New Jersey History Day (NJHD) contest program invites history organizations, affinity groups, businesses, and other interested groups to sponsor Special Awards on topics related to their missions. Sponsoring a Special Award helps support the operation of the New Jersey History Day program, while offering organizations an opportunity to raise awareness of your work and connect with young people who value history. Special Awards can encourage students to select topics that explore an aspect of history you care about, and honor students who complete exceptional work. Please click here for more information about becoming a sponsor.