Six hundred students will participate in the National History Day in Missouri state contest on Saturday, April 9, on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. National History Day in Missouri is an educational outreach program of The State Historical Society of Missouri. This high number of participants is the largest in the history of the Missouri program which serves students in grades 6-12.
Each year a different theme guides students’ research and presentations. This year’s theme, “Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences,” encourages students to examine controversies in history, explain the outcomes of debates, and analyze the impact each had on society. Students can explain their chosen topic through one of several formats, such as research papers, dramatic performances, multimedia documentaries, museum-type exhibits, and Web site design. Students compete individually or in small groups in either the Junior Division (grades 6-8) or the Senior Division (grades 9-12). The first and second place winners from the state contest will qualify for the National History Day contest at the University of Maryland-College Park, June 12-16. Prizes are awarded at all levels, including college scholarships for national winners.
State contest judging begins at 9:00 a.m. at various locations on the University of Missouri campus. The award ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. in Jesse Hall Auditorium.
About National History Day:
National History Day (NHD) is a yearlong program dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of history in elementary and secondary schools. Each fall, more than 700,000 students nationwide begin the National History Day program, competing in a series of history contests in their local districts and states. This annual student competition is the nation’s oldest and most highly regarded humanities contest for students in grades 6-12. NHD is open to all types of students-public, private, parochial, and home-schooled in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
About The State Historical Society of Missouri:
Founded in 1898 by the Missouri Press Association, the Society is the preeminent research facility for study of the Show-Me state’s rich and diverse history. The Society’s mission is to collect, preserve, and publish the history of the state and its people. A state-wide organization, with members in every Missouri county and all 49 additional states, the Society welcomes thousands of visitors and researchers each year, including scholars, genealogists, family and local historians, historic preservationists, journalists, and others interested in Missouri history and heritage. The Society operates research centers on all four campuses of the University of Missouri system, with the largest facility, art galleries, and administrative offices in Columbia.
