Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame launches CO150 student video contest

By AI, Created 10:55 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame is inviting students statewide to create short videos about inductees and the regions they shaped as part of Colorado’s 150th anniversary celebration. The contest opens May 1 and aims to expand youth storytelling, historical research and media literacy across grades 6 through undergraduate study.

Why it matters: - The contest ties Colorado’s 150th anniversary to student-created history projects centered on women who shaped the state. - CWHF is using the program to push youth engagement, media literacy and creative expression while broadening awareness of inductees’ legacy. - The regional format asks students to connect biography to place, which can make Colorado history more concrete and local.

What happened: - The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame announced its 2026 Student Video Contest, “Her Colorado: Stories Across 8 Regions.” - The contest opens May 1 and closes July 1, 2026. - Students in Colorado from sixth grade through their final year of undergraduate study can enter. - Entrants must create original videos that are 2 to 5 minutes long. - The videos must focus on a Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame inductee and her connection to one of Colorado’s eight regions.

The details: - The contest uses a region-based storytelling framework aligned with the CO150 celebration. - Students can choose from eight regions, including Denver & Cities of the Rockies, Mountains & Mesas, Pikes Peak Wonders and Mystic San Luis. - Participants are encouraged to use real-world locations tied to the subject’s story, such as landmarks, schools or cultural institutions. - The contest’s core question asks how a woman shaped her region and why her legacy still matters today. - Optional themes include modern-day impact, unsung heroes, pivotal historical moments and imagining how an inductee’s voice would resonate today. - Submissions must be in MP4 or MOV format. - Prizes are $1,000 for grand prize, $500 for second place and $250 for third place. - Finalists will be recognized and invited to the annual CWHF induction ceremony. - Winning videos will be used in the organization’s storytelling and educational work. - CWHF is offering student and educator resources, including step-by-step video tutorials, curriculum-aligned materials, suggested research pathways and locations, and example videos with storytelling guidance. - Entries will be judged on originality, storytelling clarity, creativity and connection to the theme.

Between the lines: - The contest is designed to move beyond biography and push students to interpret history through geography, culture and community impact. - The regional structure gives teachers and students a built-in research map that can connect classroom learning to local institutions and public history sites. - CWHF is also signaling that the contest is part of a broader pipeline, not a one-off event, by linking it to induction ceremonies and educational programming. - Past winners show the contest has already produced work on a range of Colorado women, from Elizabeth “Baby Doe” Tabor to Judy Collins and Martha Maxwell.

What’s next: - Students can begin entering when submissions open May 1. - Winners will be recognized after the July 1 deadline and showcased through CWHF programming. - CWHF’s annual contest will continue serving as a youth-facing education initiative tied to the organization’s larger mission.

The bottom line: - CWHF is turning Colorado’s 150th anniversary into a statewide student storytelling challenge focused on women, place and legacy. - More information is available through the organization’s social channels: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.