The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces 302 students from schools across the state took part in the 2021 National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest virtually on Saturday, May 1. NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana’s schools.
The 2021 theme is “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding.” All first- and second-place state finishers in each junior and senior category are now eligible to compete in the National Contest for National History Day virtually from June 13-19. At least 2,000 students are expected to compete from across the country and from international schools around the world.
The National Contest is the final stage in a series of contests at state and regional levels. Students in grades four through 12 began this year’s National History Day journey by exploring a historical subject and using their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website.
Students qualified for state by taking part in regional contests where more than 90 volunteer judges worked in teams to evaluate projects and rank winners. All regional finalists advanced to the state contest, where students also had the chance to win special prizes for Indiana history topics.
For a list of NHDI State Contest winners, including student names, school names, project categories and project names, please visit: https://rb.gy/v3pnvl. For a list of special award winners, please visit: https://rb.gy/7gzujl.
Included with the special award winners are two educator award nominations at the national level for which each of the 58 National History Day affiliates may nominate one middle school teacher and one high school teacher.
Tanner Givens, a teacher at Discovery Middle School in Granger, Indiana, was nominated for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award in the junior division. Troy Hammon, a teacher at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, was nominated for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award in the senior division. These awards are sponsored by Patricia Behring, widow of the late Kenneth E. Behring, who previously sponsored the National History Day National Contest for many years.
To watch a replay of the awards ceremony, please click here.
National History Day in Indiana is presented by the Rooker Family Foundation and is supported by TCU Foundation and the Vigran Family Foundation. The State Contest is supported by DNR – Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.