Poster Contest

Student Poster Contest

For intermediate/middle and high school students.

The Bradford House Historical Association (BHHA) is encouraging intermediate/middle and high school students across Southwestern Pennsylvania to showcase their creativity and historical curiosity by participating in its annual Student History Poster Contest.

The contest is open to all middle school (grades 5–8) and high school (grades 9–12) students, including those enrolled in public, parochial, cyber, and home-school programs. Eligible students must reside in Washington, Greene, Allegheny, Fayette, or Westmoreland counties.

Each year, BHHA sponsors the poster contest, with middle school and high school divisions, centered on a theme of Western Pennsylvania history between 1750 and 1850, a period that shaped the region’s cultural, political, and economic foundations. Students are asked to research a topic from this era and present their findings on a standard-size trifold display board.

Online registration for the contest is open January 2 through February 28. Students may register by submitting a completed poster registration form by mail to Bradford House, PO Box 537, Washington, PA 15301, or by emailing the form to education@bradfordhouse.org. Complete contest rules, project guidelines, topic suggestions, and citation examples are available through the Poster Rules links on the Bradford House website, BradfordHouse.org, under the “Events” tab for the “History Symposium” event.

Completed posters must be delivered in March to the BHHA Meeting House, 182 South Main Street, Washington, Pennsylvania. Specific delivery dates and times will be shared with registered participants.

To recognize outstanding work, cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in each division. In both the middle school and high school categories, first-place winners will receive $75, second place $50, and third place $25.

In honor of America250, there will be a special $50 prize awarded for the project that best presents a topic related our nation's founding.

All contest entrants will also receive free admission to the BHHA Symposium, “An Evening with Mrs. Hancock,” for the student and one accompanying adult. “The Student Poster Contest is a wonderful way for young people to engage with local history and develop research and presentation skills,” said Tracie Liberatore, Bradford House Executive Director. “We look forward to seeing how students bring Western Pennsylvania’s early history to life.”