Students Tackle Conflict and Compromise at History Day Competition

In what seems a very timely topic, hundreds of middle and high school students will tackle the topic “Conflict and Compromise in History” April 28 for the National History Day Competition. Judging begins at 9:30 a.m. at the day-long competition at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. The public is invited to view the projects.

Public, private and homeschool students will present historical performances, websites, documentaries, exhibits and research papers. The 473 students from 69 schools advanced from district competitions this spring to the state level. The top projects will represent North Carolina at the National History Day Competition at the University of Maryland-College Park in June. North Carolina produced several national medalists and special prize winners last year.

“Many students have been examining World War I this year for projects,” observes Karen Ipock, competition coordinator. “World War I fits so well with this year’s annual theme, is timely with the centennial, and the subject of a major exhibit at the Museum of History.”

Judges include historians and educators who give feedback to the students. The top two projects in each category will advance to the national competition. Awards will be presented at 2:45 p.m.

The National History Day contest increases historical understanding by encouraging students to do the hands-on work of historians. After selecting a topic for research and analysis, students use historic documents and artifacts, travel to historic sites and gather other primary sources. Students are encouraged to improve their projects using judges’ feedback at each stage of the competition so that their projects continually evolve.  

For additional information call (919) 807-7395. National History Day in North Carolina is a yearlong academic program for grades six through 12 and is affiliated with the National History Day program. Sponsors of National History Day in North Carolina are the Office of Archives and History, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies with substantial assistance from the North Caroliniana Society.