WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 3 — The co-founders of the Grateful American™ Book Prize — Dr. Bruce Cole, the former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and author/publisher David Bruce Smith — today announced the appointment of three new judges for the 2016 Prize.

The new judges are:

• Dr. Peter S. Carmichael, Robert C. Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Studies & Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College,
• John Gray, the Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and
• Neme Alperstein, a teacher of Gifted and Talented students in the New York City Public School system since 1987.

The panel will begin accepting author/publisher submissions on January 1, 2016. The forms can be downloaded from the Great American™ Book Prize web site historybookprize.com. The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2016.

Carmichael commented that the Grateful American™ Book Prize was established at a time when “the love of history is rarely cultivated among young people. And so I am excited to serve on the panel of judges for this distinguished award and to know that I will be exposed to the very best works of talented writers who wield incredible influence over how young minds remember the past as well as how they look to the future as American citizens.”

Gray added that “Learning and understanding our shared histories as Americans are vital to living in and developing the American experience.” And, Alperstein had this to say: “I am so excited to see a competition that fosters authors’ enthusiasm and creativity in support of American history. Given the tremendous response from last year’s authors, we can anticipate many more entries from new authors.”

In addition to Cole, Smith, Carmichael, Gray, and Alperstein, the 2016 Panel of Judges for the Prize will include Dr. Louise Mirrer, President and CEO, New-York Historical Society, Dr. Douglas Bradburn, author, historian and Founding Director of the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon and John Danielson, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Education Management Corporation.

The Prize is awarded to the authors of books for children in grades seven through nine about important events and people in America’s history. They can be works of fiction or nonfiction. The 2016 Prize will be awarded to a book that was published between June 2015 and June 2016. Self-published books are not eligible for the award.

The Prize consists of a $13,000 cash award in commemoration of the 13 original Colonies. It is believed to be among the highest cash awards among book prizes in general. In addition, the winner will receive a one-of-a-kind medallion created by Smith’s mother, the artist Clarice Smith.