The Gilder Lehrman Institute is pleased to sponsor the Richard Gilder History Prize. This prize serves as an opportunity for Affiliate School teachers to honor a promising and passionate history student in their school.
For the inaugural Richard Gilder History Prize in January 2020, we sent 5,000 copies of two-time Pulitzer Prize–winner David McCullough’s best-selling book 1776 to teachers in our Affiliate School network, for each school to award to a student of their choosing. For the second annual Richard Gilder History Prize in March 2021, we sent 3,500 copies of Why Documents Matter, our book of foundational documents from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. These books include a commemorative bookplate allowing schools to personalize the prize, which makes a great award to include in an end-of-year classroom ceremony. In addition, students honored with the Richard Gilder History Prize in grades 10 and 11 have the opportunity to take advantage the National Academy of American History and Civics.
National Academy of American History and Civics
Students in grades 10–11 nominated to receive the Richard Gilder History Prize are invited to enroll in the National Academy of American History and Civics, a free program launched in January 2020 and open to high school sophomores and juniors in Gilder Lehrman Affiliate Schools. Students who are admitted receive exclusive eligibility for scholarships at major universities; free online courses in American history; lectures and live Q&As with top professors at leading American universities; and a series of exclusive, inside-advice presentations by admissions officers on every aspect of the college application process.