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
Georgia Students Excel at the National History Day National Contest
The National History Day National Contest was held June 8 to 12, 2025, at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Over 60 students from Georgia joined thousands of participants from across the country and around the world in this prestigious event. Competing in both junior and senior divisions, these students showcased their award-winning projects, which included papers, performances, documentaries, exhibits, and websites. This year’s theme was “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”
We are incredibly proud of Team Georgia! Five projects ranked in the top 10 nationally within their respective categories, including a remarkable 2nd-place finish! In addition, six projects secured spots in the top 20, and one project made it into the top 30. Two Georgia students also saw their projects featured in the competitive National History Day exhibit showcase at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
Explore the complete list of NHD Georgia’s national contest results »
Congratulations to all who participated in National History Day 2025!
Announcing the Winners of the 2025 NHD Georgia State Contest
Congratulations to all the students, teachers, parents, and volunteers who participated in the National History Day Georgia 2025 state contest at LaGrange College!
More than 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 2025 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 2025 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. and Joseph B. 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: Matthew Cook (General Ray Davis Middle School, Rockdale County Schools)
- Senior Division: Beth Smith (Smith Home Academy, Jackson County)
Teachers Selected for 2025 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. and Joseph B. Alonso and Edward Jones.
Congratulations to this year’s awardees:
- Carmella D. Blackmon (Dekalb Arts Academy, Dekalb County Schools)
- Mehul Gandhi (Putnam County Middle School, Putnam County Schools)
- Karrie Nelson (M.D. Roberts Middle School of The Performing Arts, Clayton County Schools)
Georgia Teacher and Students Will Research Untold Stories from Veterans
Congratulations to Mr. Chance Giddens of Troup County High School in LaGrange, who is among 48 teachers selected for National History Day’s new program: “Silent Heroes: Untold Stories from the Korean War.” This unique initiative—funded by the Veterans Legacy Program at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—brings together teachers and students from across the country to honor Veterans through research and storytelling. Mr. Giddens and his students will meet regularly with professional historians and mentors as they work to write Silent Hero profiles of their selected veterans: U.S. Army Corporal Shigeru Ito and U.S. Air Force Corporal Shirley Jean Tinker Thomas, who are memorialized at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery in Alabama.
Continue reading to learn more about Silent Heroes »
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.
