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South Central Indiana Students Advance to 2026 National History Day in Indiana State Contest
(Franklin, IND.) March 1, 2026 – The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces that students from across South Central Indiana are advancing to the 2026 National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest following a successful regional competition on Saturday, February 28.
The South Central region contest, hosted at Franklin College, brought together approximately 100 students from Brown, Bartholomew, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion, Perry, Shelby, Sullivan counties. After presenting projects representing months of in-depth research and preparation, top finalists earned the opportunity to compete at the 2026 NHDI State Contest on April 18, 2026 at Marian University.
National History Day in Indiana is a yearlong academic program designed to strengthen history education for students in grades four through 12. Each year, participants select a historical topic connected to an annual theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary source research. The 2025–2026 theme, “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History,” challenges students to explore how individuals, communities and governments have balanced freedoms and civic duties throughout history.
Students present their findings in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. Advancement to the state contest requires qualification through one of four regional competitions held across Indiana.
“National History Day empowers students to think critically about the past and connect it to the world they live in today,” said Jody Blankenship, IHS CEO. “The dedication and depth of research we saw at the North regional contest is inspiring. These students are not only learning history, they are developing the skills to analyze complex issues, communicate effectively and become engaged community members.”
Through its project-based, inquiry-driven model, NHDI gives students ownership of their learning by guiding them to develop research questions, analyze evidence and present conclusions in creative and compelling ways. From classroom projects to regional and state competitions, the program builds critical thinking, analytical and presentation skills while fostering meaningful collaboration between students and educators.
Click here for a complete list of South Central finalists, including student names, schools, project categories and project titles.
For more information about National History Day in Indiana, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.
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About the Indiana Historical Society (IHS)
The Indiana Historical Society collects and preserves Indiana’s unique stories; brings Hoosiers together in remembering and sharing the past; and inspires a future grounded in our state’s uniting values and principles. IHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate.
