Apply for an opportunity to engage students (minimum of two, maximum of one class) in a special project to research and profile the experiences of two Veterans of the Korean War. Over the course of nine months, student-teacher teams will research the life of two individuals who served in the U.S. military during the Korean War, came home, and continued to serve their community, and are currently buried or memorialized in a U.S. National Cemetery. This program prioritizes identifying underrepresented and untold stories. Underrepresented Veterans include Veterans from historically underrepresented groups (race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation) and Veterans who have significant connections to their local communities. This program is sponsored by a grant from the Veterans Legacy Program, part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
In fall 2024, each student-teacher team will work collaboratively to identify two Veterans and research their lives, military service, and contributions to their communities. In spring 2025, student-teacher teams will visit their local national cemetery to honor their Veterans and read eulogies at their graves. Participants will create profiles for these individuals that will be cross-listed on the National History Day® Silent Heroes website and the Veterans Legacy Memorial. 50 profiles will be selected, and the NHD team will create video eulogies to add to these profiles. See a sample NHD-produced video eulogy here. To be eligible for this opportunity, the school must be located within 90 miles of a U.S. National Cemetery that is currently open to burials.
Applications are now open and will be accepted through Friday, August 2. All applicants will be notified on or before Friday, August 9, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply? Teachers and librarians who work with students in grades 6-12. Home school educators are also eligible to apply, provided they can work with at least two students in grades 6-12 on this project. To be eligible for this opportunity, the applicants’ school must be located within 90 miles of a U.S. National Cemetery that is currently open to burials.
What if my school is not located within 90 miles of a U.S. National Cemetery? Reach out to programs@nhd.org to learn about another upcoming opportunity in spring 2025.
What is a student-teacher team? Teams are composed of a teacher and at least two students (up to an entire class). Teachers will work with their students to complete the tasks. To participate in the program, students will need to submit permission forms, and their names will be credited (with teacher approval) in the final profile.
What students can participate? Teachers will identify students (minimum of two students, maximum of one class) to participate in this program. Students may work with the teacher in an academic or extracurricular setting. To participate in the live webinar programming and receive authorship credit on the profile, all students would need to submit student participation forms in September.
What are the National Cemeteries? The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries are the cemeteries maintained by the National Cemetery Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. You can see the list of cemeteries and their locations here.
How do I know if my school is eligible? Go to cem.va.gov/find-cemetery/ and scroll down to the “list view for cemeteries.” Select your state or territory. Look at cemeteries that accept burials (those that are not accepting interments are marked as “closed”). National Cemeteries AND VA Grant-Funded Cemeteries (sometimes referred to as state veterans cemeteries) are eligible. Compare the location of these cemeteries with the location of your school, ensuring the cemetery is located within 90 miles of your school. Have questions? Email programs@nhd.org.
Is there a teacher stipend? Yes. Selected teachers will receive both a $1,000 stipend for their work on the project and a $500 budget (to cover transportation or associated expenses) to take students to visit their local cemetery.
How many teachers will be selected? NHD has funding to support 50 teachers to participate in this program. We seek to identify a diverse set of teachers across a broad geographic area connecting to as many National Cemeteries as possible.
What are the expectations of participants? Participating student-teacher teams will have two monthly assignments they will work together to complete (one to help expand their knowledge of the history of the Korean War and one monthly research check-in). At four points throughout the academic year, students and teachers will join a live webinar with military historian Dr. Christopher Hamner (a video option is available for those who cannot attend live). Student-teacher teams will prepare a eulogy to deliver at the grave of their Veteran when they visit in the spring of 2025. Click here to access a DRAFT academic schedule. Teachers will manage their student teams and maintain contact with project staff throughout the year.
Can teachers earn professional development hours or graduate credit? Yes. Teachers can earn 90 professional development hours from National History Day for participation in this program. Teachers may opt to receive three graduate extension credits from the University of San Diego at a modest cost (to be deduced from the first part of their stipend if they choose this option).
Does the school need to approve participation? Yes. Selected teachers will receive a contract that will need to be signed by a school official to allow student participation.
What does a profile look like? Look at these two sample profiles of Korean War Veterans: Private First Class Yaichi Miyashiro and Sergeant Major George Whittle Brown.
Do you have other questions? Email programs@nhd.org.
