Albert H. Small Normandy Institute

We are so excited to begin our discussions of World War II and the Normandy Campaign tonight with our 15 selected teams for the 2026 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute.

This year, our 15 teams are from 14 different states across the country, representing many regions. We are thrilled to welcome our teams from Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, and 2 teams from Pennsylvania.

We are looking forward to studying with you for the next 6 months and helping to honor a soldier buried in the Normandy American Cemetery from these states.

Today is Giving Tuesday -- a chance to give back in your community and around the world!

By giving to the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute, you can help us preserve Albert H. Small's Legacy by sharing the lesson that "freedom is not free" to people across the country and the world. The Albert H. Small Normandy Institute provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to students and teachers from across the United States to engage deeply with the Normandy Campaign of 1944 and create personal connections with their local community's service in World War II. This Institute is all expenses-paid for our participants and with your support we can continue to reach more students and teachers.

Use this link to give: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/46864/donations/new?value=100&/?a=8175315

All donations to the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute are through George Washington University, a 501(c)(3) organization, and are tax-deductible.

Thank you for your generosity!

To learn more about the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute, please visit our website: https://ahsnormandyinstitute.columbian.gwu.edu/

There is just 1 week left to apply to the 2026 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute!

Throughout the program, student-teacher teams work on a biography of a soldier from their home state who is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. While in France, the students present their biography at the graveside of the soldier and take part in a special ceremony of rubbing Omaha Beach sand into the engraving to make it stand out. Pictured below are some of the 2025 Institute students rubbing sand into their soldier's stone.

Applications close on December 1, 2025!

Please refer to our website – https://ahsnormandyinstitute.columbian.gwu.edu/ – or contact us at [email protected] for more information or questions.

Are you attending the 105th National Council for Social Studies Conference in Washington, DC in 2 weeks? Come visit us!

The Albert H. Small Normandy Institute will be at Table 6 in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center exhibit hall on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6.

Hope to see you there!

Last week, some of our teams from the 2025 Normandy Institute took part in Veteran's Day ceremonies at their schools and in their local communities.

Top Left: Carson played "Taps" at his school's ceremony in the courtyard and presented on his soldier, 1st Lt. Edmund H. Landgraf to the student body.

Bottom Left: Lori and Bailee attended their American Legion's 5K and snapped this photo of the Memorial Garden along the route.

Top and Bottom Right: Jessica and Ava attended the Ozark Veteran's Day program at the local courthouse and Ava gave the Pledge of Allegiance.

Congratulations to all of our teams who participated in these local events!

There are just 2 weeks left to apply to the 2026 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute!

Be sure to get your applications in by December 1, 2025 for this expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC and Normandy, France following a semester of online study about the Normandy Campaign.

This unique opportunity gives students and teachers a chance to learn and travel together. It's best to hear the impact of this program from former participants!

Ashley, our Head Teacher for 2024 and 2025 said, "As I wrap up my time with the Normandy Institute, I keep thinking about how much this experience has changed me as an educator. The transformative power of place-based learning has been remarkable to witness—seeing students' perspectives fundamentally shift when they stand on the beaches of Normandy creates educational moments that simply cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom. What I didn't expect was how much I'd grow from the relationships I've built. Working alongside scholars from George Washington University has pushed me to think more deeply about how I teach history. It's created this incredible professional community that I never would have found otherwise."

Jessica, a teacher in the 2025 class said, "The Albert H. Small Normandy Institute was an absolutely transformative educational experience. I was so impressed with the high-quality historical research from each and every student participant, and I learned a great deal from both the students and the teachers. It has been so moving to return to my town and share the story of Normandy and our courageous soldier with my community, and I encourage other teachers and students to apply for this amazing program."

A student from the 2025 class said, "Expectedly, the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute was a great learning experience in World War II history. However, at the same time, it helped me to develop a critical analytical eye, gave me valuable insight into the historical research process, and allowed me to connect with other like-minded students from across the country."

Please refer to our website – https://ahsnormandyinstitute.columbian.gwu.edu/ – or contact us at [email protected] for more information or questions.

There is just 1 month left to apply to the 2026 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute!

High school students and teachers of any grade level are invited to apply to this expenses-paid experience. As the culminating project of this program, our teams write a biography of a soldier from near their hometown who is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. The biography is then put into the archives at the Normandy American Cemetery. Below are the soldiers honored by the Class of 2025.

The 2026 application closes on December 1, 2025!

Please refer to our website – https://ahsnormandyinstitute.columbian.gwu.edu/ – or contact us at [email protected] for more information or questions.

There are 2 months left to apply to the 2026 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute!

High school students and teachers of any grade level are invited to apply as a team to this incredible professional development opportunity. The program begins on January 14, 2026 where students and teachers will trace the Normandy Campaign through lectures, readings, and online discussions. The program culminates in travel to Washington, DC and Normandy, France in June.

Pictured below are just a few of the amazing sites we visit while in Normandy. These include Omaha and Utah Beach, the German batteries along the coast, remnants of the artificial harbor called Mulberry B, and the Normandy American Cemetery.

The application closes on December 1, 2025.

Please refer to our website -- ahsnormandyinstitute.columbian.gwu.edu -- or contact us at [email protected] for more information.

The 2026 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute application is OPEN!

High school students and teachers are invited to apply to this opportunity to trace the Normandy Campaign through online classes and in-person experiences in Washington, DC and France. Online classes begin January 14, 2026 with travel to Washington, DC and France taking place in June. This is an expenses paid trip.

Be sure to get your applications in by December 1, 2025 for this opportunity.

Please refer to our website -- ahsnormandyinstitute.columbian.gwu.edu -- or contact us at [email protected] for more information.

The 2026 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute Application opens in 2 weeks on September 1, 2025!

This intensive study of the Normandy Campaign will begin with online classes on January 14, 2026 and culminates in travel to Washington, DC and France in June.

Pictured below is the 2025 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute on the Dog Green Sector of Omaha Beach.

The application will be open through December 1, 2025. Anyone interested can view our website for more information about the program and application requirements: https://ahsnormandyinstitute.columbian.gwu.edu/

Contact us with any questions at [email protected].