Student Information
Resources
As students who are planning to create a history day project, you have access to numerous resources through National History Day and National History Day in Missouri. We encourage you to review and utilize them.
- Theme Book (.pdf)
- Contest Rule Book (.pdf)
- The Five Steps of a History Day Project (.pdf)
- Registration Guidelines (.pdf)
- A Research Guide for Students (.pdf)
Evaluations
Students can review category evaluations as they create their projects. The NHD contest rules and evaluations can be a helpful tool for understanding the expectations in each category.
Day of the contest
The National History Day contest can seem overwhelming to participants attending for the first time. To help make students and their families more at ease, we have compiled information to help acquaint you with what you can expect at the National History Day Contest.
Student check-in
Check in is from 8.00 to 8.30 AM at the entrance of the Plaster Student Union ballroom. You will then report to your assigned room and prepare your projects for judging at 9.00 AM. Do not begin setting up your project until you are in your assigned room. You will have this information sent to you in advance and available when you check in.
Student conduct
Students are expected to conduct themselves, both in person and online, in a manner that brings credit to themselves, their schools, and the affiliates they represent. Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of the students in their charge.
Contest judging
Students in exhibit, documentary, and performance categories should bring three copies of their process paper and bibliography to the contest. Finalists in the paper category should bring an extra copy of their paper and bibliography to their interview. No paperwork is required for entrants in the website category, as the process paper and annotated bibliography must be integrated into the site.
Students with exhibit projects must leave the room after their judging interview is over. No one is permitted to enter the ballroom while judging is in process.
Students, teachers, and visitors should leave and enter the room only between performances and documentaries. Everyone waiting outside the competition room should be respectful of the presentation in progress and remain quiet. Cell phones should be turned off. Performances may be videotaped or photographed only with the permission of the students.
All equipment or props used in a performance must be supplied by the students. If you are using electrical equipment, you should bring an extension cord.
A PC computer and an LCD projector will be provided in documentary and website judging rooms. For documentaries, it is recommended that students bring their project in mp4 file type on a flash drive.
Judges will review student projects and conduct an in-person interview about their research findings and methodology.
Zoom interviews or participation is not allowed due to privacy laws from NHD.
Students must be present for judging and those competing in groups must have at least one person there to represent the group.
Award ceremony
The awards ceremony and the presentation of all awards is scheduled for 1:30–3:30 p.m. at the Plaster Student Union Theater.
Next steps: Download your evaluations
Go to our contest's registration site and log-in to your account. Once logged in, click the "Eval" option in the toolbar across the top of the page to download your evals.