March 8, 2017
STUDENTS ARE TAKING A STAND IN HISTORY WITH THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY CONTEST
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Around the country, more than half a million middle and high school students are currently competing in National History Day contests. Students conduct rigorous historical research focused around the 2017 theme, Taking a Stand in History, and create a project in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website
“The annual theme provides a way to increase students’ historical understanding by developing a lens to read history,” National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “When we chose this theme a few years ago, we had no idea how relevant it would be in 2017.”
This year’s theme, Taking a Stand in History, is as relevant as ever. Amid a rise in numerous civic movements, both nationally and globally, the students participating in the contest are looking at historical stands in history. From Nelson Mandela and South African Apartheid to Aeschylus and Ancient Greek Theatre, students are exploring significant points in history and using their creativity to bring this history to life. Many teachers and students are posting photos and videos of their projects using the hashtag #NHD2017.
“The work of the students always amazes me,” said Gorn. “I can’t wait to see the projects that make it to the National Contest.”
After competing at local and regional contests, the top projects in each category advance to one of 58 affiliate contests (a table listing all affiliate level contests is below). The top two projects in each category are invited to the National History Day Contest held June 11-15, 2017 at the University of Maryland in College Park.
“Simply completing a National History Day Contest project is an accomplishment,” said Gorn. “But these students do so much more. They conduct original historical research and often uncover history that was unknown. They learn skills that will help them both in college and their careers. And above all, they develop a passion for learning.
Founded in 1974 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, the National History Day Contest was created to inspire students to conduct original historical research. Since its creation, the contest has grown to an international competition that, in its 43 year history, has reached millions of students and teachers.
Below is a table of National History Day Affiliate Contests. American Samoa, Central America, and Puerto Rico are not included in this list.
Affiliate: Contest Date: Alabama 4/21/2017 Auburn University, Montgomery Alaska 3/27/2017 Virtual contest Arizona 4/1/2017 ASU Memorial Union, Tempe Arkansas 4/15/2016 University of Central Arkansas, Conway California 5/6/2016 William Jessup University, Rocklin
China 3/4/2017 Concordia International School Shanghai Colorado 5/6/2017 University of Colorado, Denver Connecticut 4/29/2016 Central Connecticut State University, New Britain Washington, D.C. 4/5/2017 National Archives, Washington, DC Delaware 5/13/2017 William Penn High School, New Castle Florida 5/7/2017 Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee Georgia 4/22/2017 Mercer University, Macon Guam 3/25/2017 University of Guam, Mangilao Hawai‘i 4/15/2017 Windward Community College, Kaneohe Idaho 4/15/2017 College of Idaho, Caldwell Illinois 5/4/2016 Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield Indiana 5/6/2017 Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis Iowa 5/8/2017 Iowa Events Center, Des Moines Kansas 4/30/2016 Washburn University, Topeka Kentucky 4/22/2017 University of Kentucky, Lexington Korea 2/25/2017 Korea International School Pangyo Campus Louisiana 3/25/2017 The National WWII Museum, New Orleans Maine 4/8/2017 University of Maine, Orono Maryland University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 4/29/2017 Catonsville Massachusetts 4/1/2017 Stoneham High School, Stoneham Michigan 4/29/2017 Bay City Central High School, Bay City Minnesota 4/29/2017 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Mississippi 3/25/2017 University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg Missouri 4/29/2017 University of Missouri, Columbia Montana 4/8/2017 Bozeman Catholic Community Center, Bozeman Nebraska 4/8/2017 Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln Nevada (north) 4/8/2017 University of Nevada, Reno Nevada (south) 3/25/2017 University of Nevada, Las Vegas New Hampshire 5/1/2017 Plymouth State University, Plymouth New Jersey 5/6/2017 William Paterson University, Wayne New Mexico 4/28/2017 National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque New York 4/24/2016 The Farmers' Museum, Cooperstown North Carolina 4/29/2016 North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh North Dakota 4/7/2017 North Dakota Heritage Center, Bismarck Ohio 4/29/2017 Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware Oklahoma 5/3/2017 Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City Oregon 4/22/2017 Concordia University, Portland Pennsylvania 5/12/2017 Carlisle Area High School, Carlisle Rhode Island 4/29/2017 Rhode Island College, Providence South Asia 3/11/2017 The British School Jakarta South Carolina 4/29/2017 Westwood High School, Blythewood South Dakota 5/5/2017 South Dakota State University, Brookings Tennessee 4/8/2017 State Capitol Complex, Nashville Texas University of Texas at Austin and the Bullock Texas 4/29/2017 State History Museum, Austin Utah 4/29/2017 Hillcrest Jr. High School, Murray Vermont 4/8/2017 Montpelier High School, Montpelier Virginia 4/29/2017 Virginia Historical Society, Richmond Washington State 4/29/2017 Green River Community College, Auburn West Virginia 4/8/2017 West Virginia University (WVU), Morgantown Wisconsin 4/22/2017 University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison
Wyoming 4/9/2017 University of Wyoming Campus, Laramie
About National History Day: NHD is a non-profit education organization in College Park, MD. Established in 1974, NHD offers year-long academic programs that engage over half a million middle- and high-school students around the world annually in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. These research-based projects are entered into contests at the local and affiliate levels, where the top student projects have the opportunity to advance to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD also seeks to improve the quality of history education by providing professional development opportunities and curriculum materials for educators. NHD is sponsored in part by Kenneth E. Behring, Patricia Behring, HISTORY®, Jostens, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Park Service, Southwest Airlines, the Joe Weider Foundation, and the WEM 2000 Foundation of the Dorsey & Whitney Foundation. For more information, visit nhd.org.
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