Secretary of State Tre Hargett has presented Kelly Wilkerson with a prestigious Medallion Award for her work in coordinating Tennessee History Day for the last three years. 

Tennessee History Day is a program which allows students from grades 6 through 12 to enter history-themed projects in competitions at the school, regional and statewide levels. Students choose to produce dramatic performances, museum-style exhibits, documentaries, web sites or research papers based on an annual theme. The participants whose projects are judged best at the statewide competition are eligible to compete in National History Day.

“I am proud to honor Kelly Wilkerson for her dedicated involvement with Tennessee History Day and her devotion to bolstering history education,” said Secretary Hargett. “Her work with Tennessee’s public, private and homeschooled students over the past three years has improved the History Day program in our state and given Tennessee prominence at the national competition.”

Secretary Hargett presented the Medallion Award to Wilkerson during this year’s Tennessee History Day awards ceremony, which was held in Nashville earlier this month. Tennessee History Day is organized by the Tennessee Historical Society.

Secretary Hargett is one of Tennessee History Day’s sponsors.

“I am honored to be recognized in this way by Secretary Hargett, who has done so much to support this worthwhile program,” Wilkerson said. “Participation in History Day has such a positive impact on students. Not only does it strengthen their interest in history, but it also leads them to become better citizens who are more engaged in their communities.”

Wilkerson joined the Historical Society as the organization’s director for membership and programs in 2000. She took on additional duties as the statewide coordinator for the Tennessee History Day program in 2008.

Wilkerson is from South Pittsburg and has a Master of Arts degree in History with an emphasis in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Austin Peay State University.

Medallion Awards are presented by individual secretaries of state across the country and are intended to recognize individuals or organizations who have helped promote voter education and participation, civic education and government service. Each secretary of state may present up to five Medallion Awards annually.