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.
National History Day Georgia News
Scroll below for news featuring National History Day Georgia educators and students.
Atlanta Educator Nominated for National History Day Teacher of the Year
Laura Szymanski
Laura Szymanski, a teacher at Midtown International School in Atlanta, was nominated for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award.
Each of the 58 National History Day affiliates may nominate one middle school teacher for this award, and Mrs. Szymanski is the junior division nominee from Georgia. Every nominee is a teacher who demonstrates 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.
The national winner will be selected by a committee of experienced teachers and historians, and will be announced in summer 2020.
Tyrone Educator Nominated for National History Day Teacher of the Year
William Harris
Mr. William Harris, a teacher at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, was nominated for the Hannah E. (Liz) MacGregor Teacher of the Year award.
Each of the 58 National History Day affiliates may nominate one high school teacher for this award, and Mr. Harris is the senior division nominee from Georgia. Every nominee is a teacher who demonstrates 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.
The national winner will be selected by a committee of experienced teachers and historians, and will be announced in summer 2020.
Locust Grove Student-Teacher Team Chosen to Study World War II in Hawaiʻi
L to R: Jennifer Coleman and Nicole Cortes
Nicole Cortes, a student at Luella High School in Locust Grove, and her teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Coleman, make up one of only 16 student-teacher teams from across the United States selected to participate in the second annual Sacrifice for Freedom®: World War II in the Pacific Student & Teacher Institute.
This institute brings student-teacher teams together for the distinctive opportunity to study, consider, and reflect upon World War II in a way that few have done before. Students and teachers will read books and selected materials, engage in online discussions, and research a Silent Hero®, a military service member who died in World War II and is buried or memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
In June, the teams will meet in Oʻahu where they will walk in the footsteps of history, and learn firsthand about the impact of World War II in the Pacific.
With the transition to an online contest, we will require numerous online judges to make this possible. Additional details will be sent out prior to the contest with online judging procedures.
“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
Over the course of the school year, students select a topic related to the year’s theme and develop their projects through extensive primary and secondary source research. The NHD theme for 2020 is Breaking Barriers 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.
Competitions occur at the regional, state, and national levels.
National History Day Georgia Responds to COVID-19 Concerns
The public health and safety of our students, teachers, judges, supporters, and contest staff is a top priority of National History Day Georgia.
In light of current concerns regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, the decision has been made to suspend the in-person contest and convert the 2020 National History Day Georgia State Contest to an online contest format.
There will be no in-person contest at LaGrange College on April 18, 2020.
Additional information regarding deadlines and registration procedures for students will be sent to registered schools.
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.
NHD Partners
National History Day in Georgia is a program of Georgia Humanities and LaGrange College.
State Contest Host
Regional Competition Sponsors
Regional competition sponsors include Augusta University; Bibb County and Houston County Schools; Clayton County Schools; Coastal Georgia Historical Society; DeKalb County Schools; Georgia Southwestern State University; Henry County Schools; Kennesaw State University; LaGrange College; Robert Toombs Christian Academy; Rockdale County Schools; Thomas County Schools; and the University of Georgia.
