Dr. Waddy W. Moore History Award – Essay Contest
Dr. Waddy William Moore joined the faculty of Arkansas State Teacher’s College (now UCA) in 1965 as an Associate Professor of History and was promoted to full professor in 1970. He was a charter member of the American Oral History Association and served as president in 1977. In 1999, he was honored as Distinguished Professor Emeritus by UCA.
In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Moore published two books about Arkansas history and served as president of both the Faulkner County Historical Society and the Arkansas Historical Association. Dr. Moore retired from UCA in 1999. Upon his passing, the Moore family designated funds to establish an award to assist a high school senior with plans to further their studies in history after graduation.
All Faulkner County seniors, whether in public and private high schools, can compete for the $500 cash award. Students are required to write a 500-word essay answering a prompt which will be announced in the fall. In addition to the essay, students submit a school resume describing their school and community service, honors and awards, and academic excellence. They must also submit two letters of recommendation from two teachers and/or counselors.
One student from each Faulkner County high school will be nominated by school counselors, assisted by the school’s history department, to write an essay and compete at the county level. Published writers, unassociated with any of the schools represented, will judge the numbered essays, using a “blind scoring” system.
The essay contest winner will be notified in the spring and the student will read their winning essay at the FCHS Annual Meeting. It will then be published in the FCHS historical journal, “Faulkner Facts and Fiddlings” Fall issue.
For more information about applying for this history award, contact your school counselor.
The following is a list of past award recipients:
2022 – Madelyn Tanguay, Conway Christian High School
2023
Sydney Drew Evans is the 2023 recipient of the Faulkner County Historical Society’s Founders Scholarship. The award, honoring past society member Dr. Waddy Moore, was presented at the annual meeting of the historical society on April 16. Evans, daughter of Joseph and Samantha Evans and a recent honor graduate of Conway High School, submitted the winning entry in the society’s annual scholarship essay competition. Each year, seniors from local area high schools are challenged to write an essay, answering the prompt: “Describe how your interest in history will aid you in achieving your professional goals.”
During her high school years, Evans, a 2022 Arkansas Governor’s School alumni, has competed in National History Day, Model United Nations, the Arkansas State Debate Competition, and Arkansas Student Congress. In 2020, she won the Model United nations Award for best position paper. Evans plans to pursue a career as a museum collections manager.
The Faulkner County Historical Society began awarding this scholarship after the passing of Dr. Waddy Moore. His estate bestowed a monetary gift to the society which was used to initiate the scholarship program. The society now holds fundraisers and accepts donations to continue this important program to encourage young students to pursue careers in history. A “bean feed” fundraiser was held at the recent Faulkner County 150 Birthday Bash.
For more information about the scholarship and the Faulkner County Historical Society, go to www.faulkner history.org. Donations to this scholarship fund may be sent to: Faulkner County Historical Society, P.O. Box 731, Conway, AR 72033. Be sure to note “Donation to Scholarship Fund” on check.
2024
Aidan Riley Williams, senior at Greenbrier High School, was recently named the 2024 Faulkner County Historical Society (FCHS) Dr. Waddy Moore essay contest winner, He read his winning essay at the recent FCHS Annual Meeting held at the Faulkner County Courthouse and was presented a $500 check. Aiden is the son of Mikey and Candace Williams of Greenbrier.
Williams, with over a 4.0 GPA and ranked 17th in his class, will graduate with top honors in May. He was awarded the AP Scholar with Distinction and is a graduate of both the National Youth Leadership Program and the Arkansas Civil Air Patrol Encampment.
William’s extracurricular activities include serving as a Civil Air Patrol Cadet and a volunteer trainer for the Greenbrier Soccer Club kids training program and summer camp. He is Quiz Bowl Club member, an Eagle Scout, and a Varsity soccer player and cross country runner. He plans to attend the University of Arkansas in the fall.
2025
Conley Gibson, senior at Conway Christian High School, was recently named the 2025 Faulkner County Historical Society (FCHS) Dr. Waddy W. Moore Essay Contest winner. Gibsonread her winning essay at the recent FCHS Annual Meeting held at First Community Bank and was presented a $500 check. Conley is the daughter of Yanci and Brandon Gibson of Conway.
Gibson played basketball and softball as well as being part of the cheer squad at Conway Christian. She also served on Student Council and was a member of FBLA, National Honor Society and Beta Club. She plans to attend East Texas Baptist University where she will play basketball and pursue a degree in Pre-Med.
FCHS established the Dr. Waddy W. Moore Essay Contest after his passing in 1919, when his estate bestowed a monetary gift to the society. Moore taught in the UCA History Department from 1965 to 1993, establishing the Oral History Office (now Ozark Heritage Institute) and serving as its director from 1968-1993. He was elected Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1999.
Dr. Moore was also a past president of FCHS and served as editor of Faulkner Facts and Fiddlings, the society’s journal, from 1970-1974. He wrote many books, including Arkansas: Land of Opportunity (1975), which served as a text in many Arkansas History classes throughout the state.
Each year, FCHS conducts fundraisers and accepts donations to fund this essay contest which encourages local students to continue their study of history as they move on to college. Donations to this essay contest fund may be sent to Faulkner County Historical Society, P.O. Box 731, Conway, AR 72033. Be sure to note “Donation to Essay Contest” on the check.
2026
At the recent Faulkner County Historical Society (FCHS) Annual meeting, St. Joseph Senior Jude Moix was named the 2026 winner of the Dr. Waddy Moore Memorial Essay contest, receiving a $500 cash prize to use toward his college education.
After Moix read his essay to meeting attendees, guest speaker Jake Nabholz, CEO of Nabholz Construction, announced that Nabholz Foundation would match the prize amount.
Nabholz then shared the “Nabholz Story,” relating how this local construction company got its start, when Bob Nabholz, his grandfather, and Bob’s brothers began taking on construction projects in Conway, and highlighting the company’s 75-year history.
The construction company began at Bob Nabholz’s home grew and eventually relocated to 603 Merriman Street, expanding its footprint over several city blocks. In 1973, Nabholz University, Arkansas’s first Department of Labor approved in-house carpentry apprenticeship program, was established. Today, it provides skills and management training at multiple levels.
In 1979, Nabholz Construction began its first $10 million project at Arkansas Children’s Hospital where it has continued to expand that medical facility for the past 47 years. Nabholz also shared how the company had expanded and diversified, providing an array of construction services across eight states.
FCHS President Ree Walker and Secretary Judy Corcoran also made Legacy Brick presentations in honor of Bill Nutter and former County Judge Jesse Ferrell. Known as an “Antique Wampus Cat,” Nutter was an avid local history buff, leading several projects to document the history of Faulkner County. Ferrell was instrumental in establishing the Faulkner County Museum as well as Cadron Settlement Blockhouse.