Our 2023 History Day Topical Prize Winner:

Rebecca Kranz from Rosemount High School for her Senior Division Individual Documentary Justice in Heaven: How the Execution of Ann Bilansky Sent Minnesota into the Frontier Against Capital Punishment.

Congratulations to the 2022 History Day Topical Prize Winner for the Minnesota's Laws and Courts topic:

Anna Steger from Murray Middle School in St. Paul for her Junior Individual Documentary The United States of America v. Reserve Mining Company Debate: A Victory for Environmental Justice

Vivian Hustvedt from Salk Middle School in Elk River for her Junior Individual Performance Lois Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co.

Congratulations to the 2021 History Day Topical Prize Winner for the Minnesota's Laws and Courts topic:

Caroline Hedlund from the Breck School for her paper titled: Public Spaces as Borders: How city parks have created a racial divide in Minneapolis 

Congratulations to the 2020 History Day Topical Prize Winners for the Minnesota's Laws and Courts topic:

Alexander Her from Sunrise Park Middle School in White Bear Lake for his project detailing the 1970 case of Jack Baker and Michael McConnell being denied a marriage license in Hennepin County because the applicants were of the same sex.  Baker and McConnell appealed on the basis that it was their fundamental right to marry. On September 3, 1971, Baker and McConnell broke the same-sex marital barrier and became the first same-sex couple to legally marry in the United States.  Referencing Baker v. Nelson, the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 officially recognized the right of same-sex couples to marry.  Details of the project can be viewed here.

Jocelyn Dale from North Lakes Academy in Forest Lake won for her Senior Individual Exhibit titled "Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co.: Breaking Barriers in Sexual Harassment". The project details the 1975 case of Lois Jenson who worked at Eveleth Taconite Co. (EvTac) in Minnesota and was repeatedly harassed. In filing the first-ever class-action lawsuit, the plaintiffs broke social and political barriers paving the way for future sexual harassment lawsuits and movements.  More details of the project can be viewed here.

Congratulations to the 2019 History Day Topical Prize Winners for Minnesota's Laws and Courts topic: 

- Annika Culver and Greta Seppanen from Murray Middle School for their Junior Group Documentary, "Karen's Fight to Bring Sharon Home." They also received an honorable mention at the Minnesota State History Day contest. Their thesis statement presents the heart of their argument, "In 1983 a catastrophic car accident left Sharon Kowalski permanently disabled. Sharon’s committed partner, Karen Thompson, fought with persistence against tragic discrimination and Sharon’s homophobic parents to bring Sharon home. Their case set a triumphant precedent for over 200 cases in Minnesota, highlighting the importance of accepting families by choice and paving the way for marriage equality."   Their documentary can be viewed here.

- Noah Sullivan from Murray Middle School for their Junior Individual Performance, "A Twist of Triumph and Tragedy in Lake Superior." Noah also received an honorable mention at the Minnesota State History Day contest. A video of his performance can be seen here.

Congratulations to the 2018 contest winners:

• Mairin Blank & Anna Lovat from Murray Middle School for their junior group performance, Sexual Harassment: The Conflict that Caused a Class Action Lawsuit.  Their process paper can be viewed here.  Mairin and Anna's project also received Honorable Mention at the National History Day competition.
  
• Isaiah Bischoff from South High School for his senior individual documentary, Drawing Boundaries: The Fight Over the Boundary Waters.  His process paper can be viewed here.
  

Congratulations to the 2017 contest winners:

• Hemetii Si-Asar Apet from Murray Middle School for her exhibit, "Standing up for the Fair Housing Act: Dr. Josie Johnson Making a Difference;" 
  
• Caden and Justin Zens, and Cole Schmidt from Delano Middle School for their junior group documentary, Gideon v. Wainright. They also interviewed Vice President Mondale

Congratulations to the 2016 contest winners:

• Madison Anderson of Cretin-Derham Hall for her Senior Paper, on Jenson v. Eveleth Mines.
• Sam Skinner of Murray Middle School for his Junior Individual Website, Encountering the Truth: State of Minnesota v. Phillip Morris. Inc. Sam’s website is available at: http://12485258.weebly.com/. Sam represented MN at the National History Day competition in June in DC and out of 96 projects in the Junior Individual Website category, Sam’s project placed 5th at National History Day. 

Congratulations to the 2015 contest winners:

• Carly St. Martin-Norburg from Capitol Hill G & T Magnet for her junior paper, "Declaring War on the Tobacco Industry: Leadership and Legacy of State of Minnesota v. Philip Morris”  
• Demery Little, Liz Hisey, and Katie Meeker of Chatfield High School for their senior documentary, “ Wahl for Justice, Justice for All.”  

The Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society sponsors a $500 Minnesota Law and Courts topical prize for the Minnesota Historical Society's annual Minnesota History Day Contest. Luck Isensee and Bailey Hilgren of Chatfield High School won this year's prize for their documentary, Making a Splash: A Turning Point in Environmental Protection Legislation, which addressed the impact of Freeborn County v. Bryson, 210 N.W.2d 290 (Minn. 1972). Luke and Bailey took second place in the Senior Group Documentary category at State History Day and eleventh place in the Senior Group Documentary category at National History Day.

Below is the Process Paper and Video Luke and Baily submitted.

Download:  "Making A Splash"