Estonia

It was a festive ceremony, when the winners of this year’s Estonian history competition received their award in the halls of the Estonian Ministry for Education and Science in Tartu on 17 May 2024.

As the President of Estonia is acting as a patron of the competition, the Estonian First Lady, Sirje Karis, attended the ceremony and held the opening speech. As this year’s topic was “Winners and Losers”, she reflected on how today’s losers can be tomorrow’s winners and vice versa. She thanked all students for their hard work and remarked how every student’s intense research made them a winner.

A variety of awards was handed out, as different Estonian museums and history related institutions decided to sponsor special prizes. Representatives of the Estonian National Museum, the National Archives, the Estonian History Museum and the Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom were present. Moreover, awards in the names of the Estonian War Museum, the Estonian Art Museum, the Memory Institute and two societies were handed to successful students.

However, not only students received their awards. As the Estonian history competition marked its 25th birthday since its first iteration, also the long-standing jury members who evaluate the scientific and creative submissions, were honoured and received a letter of gratitude from the Estonian president.

Next year, Estonian students are invited to research the topic “Duration and Interruption”.