BROADENING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS WITH THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY CONTEST
WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than half a million middle and high school students are discovering their potential through the National History Day Contest. The contest inspires students to learn critical thinking skills through historical research. Students can choose any historical topic related to the 2018 theme, Conflict & Compromise in History, to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website.
“Creating a project for the National History Day Contest is challenging. It requires hard work and dedication. But, it also provides great reward,” said Dr. Cathy Gorn, National History Day® Executive Director. “The skills of conducting research and recognizing credible sources are crucial to increasing civic engagement in young people. In a time of fake news and misinformation, these skills are more important than ever.”
According to an independent study in 2011, students who participate in the National History Day Contest are better prepared for college, careers and citizenship. NHD students also outperform their peers in areas including communication, planning, research and perseverance. Learn more about this study at nhd.org/why-nhd-works.
Using this year’s theme, Conflict & Compromise in History, students are a developing a love of historical discovery while exploring conflicts, compromises, and sometimes a lack of compromise, in the past.
“Students today are the leaders of tomorrow,” said Gorn. “The National History Day experience equips students with the tools necessary to flourish in an ever-evolving democratic society.”
The work of these young scholars can be viewed at one of 56 affiliate contests that take place in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., American Samoa, Guam and at international schools in China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The top two projects in each category are invited to the National Contest held June 10-14, 2018 at the University of Maryland in College Park. Many teachers and students are documenting their journeys on social media using the hashtag #NHD2018.
Below is a table of National History Day Affiliate Contests.
| Affiliate | Date of Contest | Location of Contest |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4/6/2018 | Auburn University, Montgomery |
| Alaska | 3/23/2018 | Virtual contest |
| America Samoa | 4/11/2018 | Ree Lex Auditorium |
| Arizona | 3/31/2018 | ASU Memorial Union, Tempe |
| Arkansas | 4/7/2018 | University of Central Arkansas, Conway |
| California | 5/5/2018 | William Jessup University, Rocklin |
| China | 3/24/2018 | Concordia International School, Shanghai |
| Colorado | 5/5/2018 | University of Colorado, Denver |
| Connecticut | 4/28/2018 | Central Connecticut State University, New Britain |
| Washington, D.C. | 4/11/2018 | National Archives, Washington, DC |
| Delaware | 3/24/2018 | William Penn High School, New Castle |
| Florida | 5/7/2018 | Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee |
| Georgia | 4/21/2018 | Mercer University, Macon |
| Guam | 3/24/2018 | University of Guam, Mangilao |
| Hawai‘i | 4/14/2018 | Windward Community College, Kaneohe |
| Idaho | 4/14/2018 | College of Idaho, Caldwell |
| Illinois | 5/3/2018 | Bank of Springfield Center, Springfield |
| Indiana | 4/14/2018 | Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis |
| Iowa | 4/30/2018 | Iowa Events Center, Des Moines |
| Kansas | 4/21/2018 | Washburn University, Topeka |
| Kentucky | 4/21/2018 | University of Kentucky, Lexington |
| Korea | 2/24/2018 | Korea International School, Pangyo Campus |
| Louisiana | 4/14/2018 | The National WWII Museum, New Orleans |
| Maine | 4/7/2018 | University of Maine, Orono |
| Maryland | 4/28/2018 | University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Catonsville |
| Massachusetts | 4/7/2018 | Winchester High School, Winchester |
| Michigan | 4/28/2018 | Bay City Central High School, Bay City |
| Minnesota | 4/28/2018 | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis |
| Mississippi | 3/24/2018 | University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg |
| Missouri | 4/28/2018 | University of Missouri, Columbia |
| Montana | 4/7/2018 | Montana State University, Bozeman |
| Nebraska | 4/7/2018 | Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln |
| Nevada (north) | 3/17/2018 | University of Nevada, Reno |
| Nevada (south) | 4/15/2018 | University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
| New Hampshire | 4/7/2018 | Plymouth State University, Plymouth |
| New Jersey | 5/5/2018 | William Paterson University, Wayne |
| New Mexico | 4/27/2018 | National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque |
| New York | 4/23/2018 | Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown |
| North Carolina | 4/28/2018 | North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh |
| North Dakota | 4/13/2018 | North Dakota Heritage Center, Bismarck |
| Ohio | 4/21/2018 | Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware |
| Oklahoma (Junior) | 5/2/2018 | Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City |
| Oklahoma (Senior) | 5/3/2018 | Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City |
| Oregon | 5/5/2018 | Concordia University, Portland |
| Pennsylvania | 5/11/2018 | Carlisle Area High School, Carlisle |
| Rhode Island | 4/28/2018 | Rhode Island College, Providence |
| South Asia | 3/10/2018 | Singapore American School, Singapore |
| South Carolina | 4/21/2018 | Westwood High School, Blythewood |
| South Dakota | 4/11/2018 | South Dakota State University, Brookings |
| Tennessee | 4/7/2018 | State Capitol Complex, Nashville |
| Texas | 4/28/2018 | University of Texas at Austin and the Bullock Texas State History Museum, Austin |
| Utah | 4/28/2018 | Hillcrest Jr. High School, Murray |
| Vermont | 4/7/2018 | Montpelier High School, Montpelier |
| Virginia | 4/21/2018 | Virginia Historical Society, Richmond |
| Washington | 4/21/2018 | Green River Community College, Auburn |
| West Virginia | 4/7/2018 | West Virginia University (WVU), Morgantown |
| Wisconsin | 4/21/2018 | University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison |
| Wyoming | 4/9/2018 | University of Wyoming, Laramie |
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. During its 44-year history the contest has grown to an international competition that has impacted millions of students and teachers.
About National History Day® (NHD): NHD is a non-profit education organization headquartered in College Park, MD. Established in 1974, NHD promotes an appreciation for historical research among middle and high school students through multiple annual programs. More than half a million students participate in the annual National History Day Contest. These research-based projects are entered into contests at the local and affiliate levels, where the top entries are invited to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD provides professional development opportunities and curriculum materials for educators of all levels. NHD is sponsored in part by 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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