Student Testimonials

My name is Jimena Molina, I’m from Fayetteville, GA. I was part of NHA’s Class of 2019. I am currently a sophomore studying Gender Studies and Chinese at Bowdoin College. Before that however, I took a gap year to learn Mandarin with the U.S. State Department’s NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth) Program.  

As a first-generation Mexican American, the National History Academy was one of the most influential experiences of my life. The program allowed me to explore notable museums and historical sites across the east coast! My experience transformed me from a then shy high schooler to a present-day thriving college student in a multitude of ways. I strengthened my analytical skills when I perused the Harvard Business School Cases, developed public speaking skills each time I engaged in the Better Angels parliamentary style debates, and became inspired by the plethora of guest speakers the Academy brought to campus. I left NHA with lifelong friendships, a toolbox filled with skills for college, and most importantly, a greater appreciation for history.  

I feel incredibly fortunate to have received such a profound educational experience. I encourage all of you to take the first step and apply! 

Hi, my name is Devaughn Henry, and I’m a junior from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I was a member of NHA in 2022. I hope to go to UVA and major in History with the intention of becoming a Lawyer. History has always been something that I was drawn to because of how interesting it is and how we live through it everyday. Where I live, there aren’t many opportunities like NHA where you can share your thoughts and communicate with people who have similar interests as you.

Being at NHA gave me the abilities to make connections and life-long friendships with people whom I would’ve otherwise never met or known, but it also helped me solidify my choice to major in History. There were so many memories that were made over the course of one month but I would have to say my favorite was when we would share our views on things during class time and have open and out loud discussion that you wouldn’t otherwise get in a normal classroom.

NHA helped bring people from many different backgrounds together based on one sole topic and I believe that my friends I experienced the summer of 2022 with will be the next people we learn about in our history classes!

Howdy there everybody! My name is Elias McEaneney, and I’m currently a senior at Jackson High School in Massillon, Ohio. I will be attending Bowdoin College as part of the Class of 2027, where I intend to major in history and sociology!

National History Academy was truly one of the most influential experiences of my life. I come from a school where history isn’t prioritized and seen only as a necessity to get through each year and graduate. NHA meant going to a place where everybody around me also shared a deep passion for the roots of where we came from. More importantly though, we were all unique individuals whose passions in history overlapped, but were distinct. I learned more about not just American history as a whole, but military history, mythology, governmental history, revolutionary history, and so much more from my peers. I was able to make a number of different friends, all of whom I keep in contact to today, despite the distance that might separate us.

NHA absolutely enthralled me with its site visits, civil discourse, and case method analysis. It truly changed my perspective not only on our history, but on our country as a whole.

My name is Ivy, I’m from Lawrence, Massachusetts, and I attended National History Academy during the summer of 2022! Having the opportunity to go to NHA is an experience I’ll never forget and will be forever grateful for it. When I first got there on day one, I knew that I made the right decision to spend my summer in that incredible environment. Going to camp allowed me to be in a space where intellectual individuals critically analyze our nation and how we can be the change makers and leaders of tomorrow. At NHA, we had opportunities to go to museums, presidential homes, and other locations to reflect upon how our nation was built, the principles surrounding it, and how it affects us today. Hearing inspirational and remarkable leaders come to share their stories was beyond enlightening and allowed us to understand how events happened and why they will always matter. NHA helped me develop my own voice and made me recognize how extremely important it is to use my voice for the greater good; in fact, it’s a necessity for all of us to speak up and work towards a healthier nation. I also loved the environment and supportiveness that camp offered. I knew people would always be there if anyone needed to have those deep discussions about issues that impact us today. We can’t turn a blind eye on those situations. NHA allowed me to have a greater comprehension on subjects sometimes high schools ignore and don’t pay that necessary attention to. I was able to grasp subjects such as the enslavement of Africans in America, the ERA (the push of equal rights for women identifying people) and the Civil Rights Movement. My takeaway from NHA is never lose your spark and your purpose for changing this world. It’s up to our generation to wake up change and never let us sleep again. I highly recommend attending NHA. It will change your life forever. I am so glad I went!

My name is Trey Jennings, and I’m from Boise, Idaho. I’m a junior in high school and on my way to graduating with my associates degree next year. I attended NHA in 2022, and when I say this experience was life changing, that is no exaggeration!

Overall, I entered the program very social from the start, something that even I can admit isn’t very common, but I really wanted to get to know everyone in those four weeks. This exact trait would be the catalyst to my learning. I met people from all around the US and even the globe, and the interactions I had with these people broadened my perspectives exponentially. It’s common to be told that we must look at issues from both sides, but one thing I learned is that a lot of times, we don’t, or when we do, we stay domestic. One of the biggest lessons I learned counteracted this issue–that we need to be able to look at the big picture–the biggest picture possible, because what may seem like one thing to you, may be ten things to the people around you.

Simply put, NHA taught me open-mindedness. It taught me acceptance. It taught me self-confidence. It taught me leadership. It taught me life and that everything comes from something, whether that’s a physical object, an objective claim, or a subjective idea. And for that, I can not recommend NHA enough to others! Remarkable leaders come to share their stories was beyond enlightening and allowed us to understand how events happened and why they will always matter. NHA helped me develop my own voice and made me recognize how extremely important it is to use my voice for the greater good; in fact, it’s a necessity for all of us to speak up and work towards a healthier nation. I also loved the environment and supportiveness that camp offered. I knew people would always be there if anyone needed to have those deep discussions about issues that impact us today. We can’t turn a blind eye on those situations. NHA allowed me to have a greater comprehension on subjects sometimes high schools ignore and don’t pay that necessary attention to. I was able to grasp subjects such as the enslavement of Africans in America, the ERA (the push of equal rights for women identifying people) and the Civil Rights Movement. My takeaway from NHA is never lose your spark and your purpose for changing this world. It’s up to our generation to wake up change and never let us sleep again. I highly recommend attending NHA. It will change your life forever. I am so glad I went!

Hi! My name is Cate Boyette and I’m a junior from Hendersonville, North Carolina. I attended the National History Academy in 2022, and it was one of the most monumental experiences of my life. I had an amazing time visiting historic sites, reading and discussing case studies, listening to amazing speakers, and participating in opportunities I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. However, I think the friendships and connections I’ve made from NHA have meant the most to me. The friends I’ve made from NHA will be lifelong even if we sometimes live hundreds of miles apart.

After returning home from camp, I realized I had never truly understood what it meant to be an American and the complexity within that identity. The National History Academy will push you, and your peers will challenge you, and that’s the brilliance of this program. If you love history, this is the program for you, and if you’re worried about cost, know that there are plenty of scholarship and financial aid opportunities. NHA is truly an amazing experience and I could not recommend it enough!