The Lycoming County Historical Society invites high school seniors to participate in the Society's annual Richard L. and Miriam L. Swan Mix Student Historian award competition. This award honors the lives of two dedicated educators and prominent local historians.
Since its founding in 1907, the LCHS has promoted its mission to discover, collect, preserve and interpret the cultural heritage of our region. This competition provides Lycoming County high school students with the opportunity participate in the Historical Society's mission.
This competition, which opens in January, invites seniors attending schools in Lycoming County to submit an 800 to 1200-word essay for which the student selects a time period from one of the displays at the Taber Museum and becomes a person who lived at that time in history. The essay must be historically accurate for the time period depicted in the gallery. Imagine yourself in the gallery. Choose various items you observe in the gallery and explain how they would be used as part of your daily life.
A team of judges chosen by the Historical Society determines the winner, and a cash prize of $500.00 is awarded. The successful essayist is recognized by the Lycoming County Historical Society at its annual meeting in April.
The opening of the competition is usually announced by letter to high school administration and teachers. Watch also for announcements on the LCHS Website.
Previous Student Historians and their essays:
- 2023 - Nicolas E. Manning
- 2022 - Lea Worthington
- 2021 - Isabella Taylor
- 2020 - Alexandria McKenna
- 2019 - Paeton Peluso
- 2018 - Juliet Jacques
- 2017 - Beatrice Ferguson
- 2016 - Lauren Brandenburg
- 2015 - Anna Lee Hafer