Elizabeth Hutton Named
2026 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow
FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2026 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Elizabeth, a history teacher at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, MO. Elizabeth will arrive in Fort Scott on June 28th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.
The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.
Elizabeth Hutton, a high school history teacher from Lebanon, Missouri, has been recognized for her outstanding leadership in guiding students to the National History Day (NHD) national competition in College Park, Maryland. Her long-standing commitment to historical scholarship and student achievement has made her a distinguished figure in the NHD community.
Hutton’s relationship with National History Day began in 1999, when she first participated as a high school freshman. Over the course of her four years as a competitor, she qualified for the national competition three times. As a sophomore, her documentary group earned sixth place in the nation with a project highlighting the life and legacy of influential but often overlooked musician Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter.
Her most notable achievement as a student competitor came during her freshman year, when her performance group uncovered the story of Irena Sendler, the Polish humanitarian who rescued hundreds of children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust. Their project, titled Life in a Jar, attracted national media attention and later inspired both a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie and a bestselling book on the Holocaust.
Hutton’s passion for National History Day continued into her college years, where she served as a volunteer judge for local competitions. After becoming an educator, she established her own NHD course, guiding and mentoring students as they pursued their own original research. Under her leadership, many of her students have earned regional and national recognition for their work.
Her ongoing dedication to historical inquiry, student empowerment, and excellence in education continues to make a meaningful impact on her school, community, and the broader field of history education.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Elizabeth’s involvement with project-based learning and research for National History Day projects will be an excellent resource for our 2026 Fellows.”
While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.