National History Day announced today that Bonnie Guggenheim, a teacher at George Washington High School in Denver, CO is one of eight finalists for the Richard T. Farrell Teacher of Merit award given to a teacher for outstanding success in teaching history. Guggenheim will be recognized for her teaching at the National History Day national contest on June 9, 2002 at the University of Maryland Nyumburu Amphitheater.

The eight finalists will receive a commemorative plaque and a collection of historical documentaries from the video collection of America's History and Culture from the Public Broadcasting System, the largest video archive ever assembled specifically for educators. The winner of the award will be announced on June 13, 2002 at the National History Day awards ceremony and can be watched via the world wide web at www.nationalhistoryday.org.

The Richard T. Farrell Award is presented each year to a teacher who employs innovative teaching methods in and out of the classroom. The teacher must participate in the National History Day program, develop and use creative teaching methods that interest students in history and help them make exciting discoveries about the past, and show exemplary commitment to helping students develop their interests in history and recognizing their achievements.

Guggenheim is being recognized for her dedication to the National History Day program and her success at improving history education. In 1994, after many years of service with the U.S. Army, Major Guggenheim chose a second career in the public school classroom as a history teacher. From the beginning, she was an active participant in National History Day and not only incorporated the program into her own curriculum but helped to develop the program throughout the Denver Public Schools.

She conducts teacher trainings for her own faculty, for the school system and is involved in state-wide training sessions that focus on how the NHD program can help teachers meet state standards and improve educator performance. Guggenheim's enthusiasm for teaching has made her extend beyond the textbook and incorporate primary sources and technology into her curriculum. Former student Nick Westra states: "She brings to the classroom a broad knowledge of history and a passion for teaching. Mrs. Guggenheim constantly strives to engage her students in study and interpretation of primary source material."

National History Day is proud to partner with PBS VIDEO, America's leading source of top-quality educational video products, to recognize teachers for their efforts to improve history education. The PBS VIDEO database unites more than 350 landmark documentaries, a searchable online index, thousands of downloadable primary source materials, and correlations to state and national standards.

National History Day is a year-long critically acclaimed education program that encourages young people to explore historical topics related to an annual theme. Participants qualify for the national event after competing in a series of local and state competitions, which draw more than a half million entrants annually. This year's national event is expected to draw more than 2,000 students from across the country. Over three hundred historians and education professionals will evaluate the students‚ work.

For more information, please contact Mark Robinson, National History Day, 301-314-9542 or mr209@umail.umd.edu