National History Day
National History Day (NHD) Georgia is a program of Georgia Humanities and LaGrange College. NHD encourages middle and high school students to engage more deeply in historical research and analysis.
About National History Day Georgia
Over the course of the school year, students select a topic related to a yearly theme and develop their projects through extensive primary and secondary source research. The theme for 2026 is “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.”
Under the guidance of a sponsoring teacher, students choose both their subject matter and a vehicle to present their research within the following categories: documentary, exhibition, paper, performance, or website. NHD attracts thousands of participants each year, and competitions occur at the regional, state, and national levels.
The Topic Explorer Has Moved!
Looking for the Georgia Topic Explorer? You can find it at its new home on the New Georgia Encyclopedia! Explore over 40 topic ideas to jumpstart your research, including images, contextual information, and primary source samples from the Digital Library of Georgia.
“It is inspiring to research and share untold stories with the public. I learned how to do that through National History Day.”
—Dr. Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin, National History Day alumnus
Getting Started
The National History Day Georgia website offers valuable information. Find answers to common questions and learn how to register for the program here.
Get Involved
Volunteers play a crucial role in National History Day Georgia at every level of competition. Learn more about how you can contribute to the National History Day experience in Georgia as a judge or as a day of event volunteer.
National History Day Georgia News
Announcing the Winners of the 2026 NHD Georgia State Contest
Congratulations to all the students, teachers, parents, and volunteers who participated in the National History Day Georgia 2026 state contest at LaGrange College!
Nearly 500 students from across the state presented their historical research projects, supported by over 100 judge volunteers who donated their time and expertise to determine the winners.
This year, 66 Georgia students qualified for the June 2026 National Contest at the University of Maryland. Click here to see a list the complete list of state contest winners »
Congrats again to all who participated—and good luck, Team Georgia!
Teachers Selected for the 2026 NHD Georgia Teacher of the Year Award
The National History Day Georgia Teacher of the Year Award recognizes a middle and high school teacher who demonstrate a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through innovative use of primary sources, implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills, and participation in the National History Day Contest.
This award is generously sponsored by Alisa A. & Joseph B. Alonso and Janice Alonso in recognition of the pivotal role teachers play in the lives of students and comes with a monetary prize.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
- Junior Division: Katie Baker-Johnson (Hilsman Middle School, Clarke County Schools)
- Senior Division: Yi’Sheika Lawrence (Georgia College Early College, Baldwin County Schools)
Teachers Selected for 2026 NHD Georgia Classroom Award
The National History Day Georgia Classroom Award supports National History Day program efforts in high-needs classrooms. The award comes with a monetary prize paid directly to the educator to meet their National History Day classroom or school needs. This award is generously sponsored by Alisa A. & Joseph B. Alonso and Janice Alonso.
Congratulations to this year’s awardees:
- Bonnie Garvin (Jasper County High School, Jasper County)
- April Allen (Baker Middle School, Muscogee County)
- Kadesha Gordon-Simms (Miller Magnet Fine Arts, Bibb County)
NHD Partners
State Contest Host
Regional Competition Sponsors
Regional competition sponsors include Augusta University; Clayton County Schools; DeKalb County Schools; Henry County Schools; Kennesaw State University; LaGrange College; Middle Georgia State University; Robert Toombs Christian Academy; Rockdale County Schools; Thomas County Schools; and the University of Georgia.
