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 2024 is “Turning Points 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 National History Day Georgia Topic Explorer
First launched in 2019, the National History Day Georgia Topic Explorer includes more than 40 research topics grouped by categories, including individuals, groups, events, literature and media, and history and advocacy.
This interactive list of Georgia-inspired topics is a collaboration between NHD Georgia, the New Georgia Encyclopedia (NGE), and the Digital Library of Georgia (DLG). Each topic profile includes an image, contextual information from the NGE, and sample primary sources from the DLG. Connect with Georgia history in a new way through the National History Day Georgia Topic Explorer!
“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
National History Day Georgia Student Documentary Selected for National Docuseries
The 400 Years of African American History Commission has released a five-part docuseries showcasing outstanding projects from National History Day students nationwide. We’re excited to share that Temple Lester, an NHD Georgia student from Chamblee Charter High School (Teacher: Sally Stanhope), is featured in part two of the series with her documentary “Idlewild Black Eden: The Town That Segregation Built.”
Read the press release »
Check out the inspiring collection of student-produced films »
Georgia Students Earn Top Marks at the National History Day National Contest
The National History Day National Contest was held June 11-15, 2023, at the University of Maryland, College Park.
This year, more than 70 students from Georgia joined thousands from across the country and around the world to participate in the National History Day national contest—the first in-person contest since 2019.
Competing in junior and senior divisions, students presented their award-winning projects, including papers, performances, documentaries, exhibits, and websites, reflecting the theme “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.”
We are so proud of the accomplishments of Team Georgia: two projects were awarded 2nd place in their respective categories, another finished 3rd place, five projects ranked within the top 20, and two more made it into the top 30. Additionally, two Georgia students were featured in the National History Day documentary and exhibit showcases, competitive events hosted in partnership with the Smithsonian.
Explore the complete list of NHD Georgia’s national contest results »
Congratulations to all who participated in National History Day 2023. Your passion and dedication continue to inspire us!
(Official U.S. Senate photo by Rosa Pineda)
National History Day Georgia Student Selected for 2023 National Exhibit Showcase
Penny Mayfield, a student at St. Luke School in Columbus, will represent Georgia in the 2023 National History Day® Exhibit Showcase, hosted in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Her project is titled “Amelia Earhart: Piloting a New Frontier in Aviation and Women’s Rights,” and her teacher is Sarah Meyer von Bremen. Penny’s exhibit will be featured in a live showcase at the museum on June 14, 2023.
Learn more about the showcase »
National History Day Georgia Student Selected for 2023 NHD Documentary Showcase
Temple Lester, a student at Chamblee Charter High School, will represent Georgia in the 2023 National History Day® Documentary Showcase, made possible by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Lester’s documentary is titled “Idlewild: Black Eden The Town That Segregation Built,” and her teacher is Sally Stanhope. Temple’s film will premiere in a live showcase at the Oprah Winfrey Theater on June 14, 2023.
Learn more about the showcase »
Announcing the Winners of the 2023 National History Day State Contest
Congratulations to all the students, teachers, parents, and volunteers who participated in the National History Day Georgia 2023 state contest at LaGrange College—our first in-person contest in four years!
More than 430 students from across the state presented their historical research projects, and over 100 judge volunteers donated their time and expertise to determine the winners.
This year, 67 Georgia students qualified for the June 2023 national contest at the University of Maryland. Click here to see a list the complete list of state contest winners »
Congratulations again to all who participated. And good luck, Team Georgia!
Georgia Teachers Nominated for 2023 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award
The Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award celebrates the pivotal role teachers play in the lives of their students. The award recognizes educators who demonstrate a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through the creative use of primary source material, implementation of active learning strategies, and participation in the National History Day Contest. This year, Colleen Surrette of Georgia Cyber Academy (Atlanta) and Dave Mayer of Ola High School (McDonough) were nominated to represent the state in the Junior and Senior divisions, respectively. The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at the National History Day National Contest Awards Ceremony in College Park, Maryland. Learn more »
Mrs. Colleen Surrette, Georgia Cyber Academy
Mr. David Mayer, Ola High School
Georgia Teachers Selected for 2023 National History Day Georgia Classroom Award
The National History Day Georgia Classroom Award supports National History Day program efforts in high-needs classrooms. This award comes with a monetary prize paid directly to the educator for meeting their National History Day classroom needs and is sponsored by Alisa A. & Joseph B. Alonso and The Lafayette Alliance. This year, three educators were selected for the award: Marcy Ashton of Coile Middle School (Athens), Jennifer McDaniel of Houston County High School (Warner Robbins), and William Harris of Heritage High School (Stockbridge).
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.
