Texas History Day State Contest*

Saturday, April 20, 2024

University of Texas at Austin & Bullock Texas State History Museum

Interested in Judging?? Click here!

Want to volunteer as a room monitor? Click here!

  • Judges and room monitors will receive a fantastic THD 2024 T-Shirt, Breakfast and Lunch

This year’s theme is Turning Points in History

*make sure to register at the closest regional contest to you, that is the first step in competition for Texas History Day

Why Texas Students Love History Day

Discover why Texas students love to participate in Texas History Day and National History Day. In this video, you will hear testimonials from students, teachers, and parents who have participated in the past.

News:

Texas National History Day Teachers Engage in Webinar Series Using Library of Congress Resources to Develop a Historical Argument

College Park, Maryland – October 26, 2023 – National History Day® (NHD) and the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), the organizer of NHD in Texas, are proud to announce the Texas teachers selected to participate in NHD’s fall 2023 professional development program. This course uses online Library of Congress resources to develop and support historical arguments. It is a feature of NHD’s membership in the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Consortium in partnership with the TPS Regional Grant Program.

The teachers chosen for this honor join 48 of NHD’s 58 affiliates across the country and around the world. NHD affiliates include all 50 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and international schools.

“The skills and strategies these educators are developing through this series will benefit their students throughout their academic and professional careers,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “As a Library of Congress TPS Consortium member, NHD is incredibly fortunate to offer this opportunity to engage NHD teachers and coordinators with the vast resources of the Library of Congress using resources developed in partnership with the Library of Congress.

Since August, these educators have worked with their peers nationwide and National History Day staff to build knowledge for teaching with online Library of Congress resources. When the series is complete,

these educators will have demonstrated the ability to share key strategies for researching, supporting,

and presenting historical arguments bolstered by primary sources held by the Library of Congress.

The educators from Texas participating in the series include:

  • Mrs. Kelly Bellar, Region 10 Education Service Center, Richardson, Texas
  • Ms. Meredith Bolen, Energy Institute High School, Houston, Texas
  • Mrs. Becky Florsheim, Poetry Community Christian School, Terrell, Texas
  • Mrs. Katherine Grider, Ector High School, Ector, Texas
  • Mr. Kevin James, Harmony Public Schools, San Antonio, Texas
  • Ms. Raquel Longoria, Stovall Middle School, Houston, Texas
  • Mrs. Mayra Moreno, Eastlake High School, El Paso, Texas
  • Mrs. Kelly Ramirez, Incarnate Word Academy, Corpus Christi, Texas
  • Mrs. Katina Robalino, Woodcreek Junior High School, Katy, Texas
  • Ms. Stacy Terral, Chaparral High School, Killeen, Texas

Texas Students Earn Top Awards at National History Day Contest

The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) proudly commends the exceptional achievements of Texas students who participated in the National History Day (NHD) contest held at the University of Maryland from June 10-15, 2023. These remarkable young historians showcased their passion for history, demonstrated exceptional research and presentation skills, and represented Texas with distinction.

Texas History Day (THD) Students from various cities across Texas, who advanced through school, regional, and state-level contests, earned the opportunity to compete at the national level. Amidst fierce competition with approximately 2,800 students from all 50 states, international schools, and U.S. territories, Texas students shone brightly, impressing judges with their insightful historical analyses and engaging presentations.

Under this year’s NHD theme, “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas,” students explored narratives that offered new perspectives, untold stories, and transformative ideas. Their dedication, creativity, and commitment to historical scholarship were evident in their exceptional projects. TSHA congratulates the following Texas students for their remarkable achievements at the NHD contest:

Henry Jones from Lively Middle School, Austin (A “Social Frontier”: Boy Scouts, Progressive Education and the Turner Thesis): 1st Place Jr. Paper

Carter Holton from New Caney High, New Caney (Window to the Universe: How the Hubble Space Telescope Revolutionized the Study of Astronomy): 2nd Place Sr. Individual Exhibit

Grant Gillum from Dripping Springs High, Dripping Springs (Power for the People: How LBJ Tamed the Frontiers of Texas Hill Country Electrification): 2nd Place Sr. Individual Website

Emma Clark-Martinez, Finley Ritter, and Katarina Telep from Atlas Academy, Waco (Is There a Doctor in the House: The Tale of Dr. Sara Josephine Baker and Typhoid Mary): 3rd Place Jr. Group Performance

Felicity Folk and Zeviel Piñeda from Veterans Memorial Early College High, Brownsville (The Hidden Bombe of WWII: Outwitting the Enigma Code): 3rd Place Sr. Group Exhibit

Kevin Majka from Odyssey Academy, El Lago (A New Age of Politics: Barbara Jordan’s Influence on the Exposure of African American Female Representation in Government): Finalist in Sr. Individual Exhibit

Dhilan Nag, Hardik Singh, Shriya Bhat, and Sukhran Chandrasekar from Plano East High, Plano (Jack Kilby and the Circuit That Conquered the World): Finalists in Sr. Group Documentary & Recognized as the Outstanding Senior Entry from Texas

Eddie Turk, Harper Armstrong, and Luisa Perez-Montes from Livingston Jr. High, Livingston (The Light in the Darkness: The Frontier of Electrifying Rural America): Finalists in Jr. Group Website

Izabella Brionnes and Annaliese West from Marathon Jr. High, Marathon (Mission Impossible: Cabeza de Vaca y la Nueva Frontera): Finalists in Jr. Group Performance

Yashvir Sing Gill, Jonthan Lewis, Annali Ramirez, and Gabriel Ramirez EF Green Junior High, Baytown (Got Safe Milk?): Jr. Group Exhibit Finalists and Recognized as the Outstanding Junior Entry from Texas

These talented individuals exemplified exceptional research skills, creativity, and dedication in their projects, captivating judges and earning well-deserved recognition.

Furthermore, we are delighted to announce that Maahi Singh, a student at EF Green Junior High in Baytown, was selected to have her paper (Booker T. Washington V. W.E.B. Du Bois: Frontiers in Black Upward Mobility, Civil Rights, and Economic Stability Challenging Conventional Thinking in America) featured in an online showcase organized by the White House Historical Association. Singh also was invited to attend a Writer’s Workshop with the esteemed staff of the White House Historical Association on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. The papers, selected by Association staff, can be accessed at whitehousehistory.org/rubenstein-center/k-12-education-resources-and-programs/educational-partners/nhd-paper-showcase.

Additionally, Kevin Majka, a student at the Odyssey Academy in El Lago, Texas, was among the 48 students chosen to display their exhibits in a live showcase at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on Flag Day, June 14, 2023. Majka advanced to the National contest by placing in the top two at the THD Senior Individual Exhibit category contest, held at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin in April, with his exhibit, A New Age of Politics: Barbara Jordan’s Influence on the Exposure of African American Female Representation in Government.

These achievements at the NHD contest and participation in prestigious showcases are a testament to the dedication and passion of Texas students, as well as the support provided by educators, parents, and mentors. TSHA expresses its gratitude for their invaluable contributions in nurturing young historians and fostering a deep appreciation for Texas’s rich heritage.

Texas History Day 2023 Results

Category Results

Special Award Results

Junior Division Finals Rounds

Senior Division Finals Rounds

Fort Bend ISD Student Wins Texas History Day T-Shirt Design Contest

Texas State Historical Association announced the winner of the Texas History Day (THD) T-Shirt Design Contest, Sophi Li, 8th Grader from Fort Settlement Middle School, created the winning design!

Students from across the state submitted their own designs for the National History Day theme for 2023, “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.”  The student design also needed to have a connection to Texas. The winning student receives $250 and a free THD t-shirt.

“I’m impressed by the talent that the student submissions showcased.  We are proud to make Sophi’s design a reality,” said Andy Osborne, owner of AJL Advertising Specialties.  AJL sponsors the THD Design contest and also prints the t-shirts that are made available for purchase during the THD state contest on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Austin.  

For the full press release, click here.

TWO TEXAS STUDENT-TEACHER TEAMS ATTEND ELITE SUMMER INSTITUTE IN HAWAIʻI

National History Day and Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Provided Learning, Research, and All Expenses Paid Trips to Hawaiʻi for Select Students

[added September 7, 2022]

This summer two Texas students and their teachers took part in an elite cooperative learning program this summer in Hawaiʻi, Sacrifice for Freedom®: World War II in the Pacific Student & Teacher Institute:

Mr. Rhett Carter (teacher); Dhilan Nag, Senior (student); Plano East Senior High School; Plano, Texas

Mrs. Megan Souchek (teacher); Carter Holton, Senior (student); New Caney High School; New Caney, Texas The program, coordinated through National History Day®, was sponsored by the Pearl Harbor Historic Site Partners, including Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Pacific Historic Parks, USS Missouri Memorial Association, and Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor. The students–Dhilan Nag (Senior) of Plano East Senior High School and Carter Holton (Senior) at New Caney High School–were selected from 54 teams who applied for the competitive summer institute. Each student traveled to participate in the institute with their sponsoring teacher.

Dhilan, Carter, and their teacher-sponsors are longtime participants in the Texas History Day program, the state affiliate of the National History Day program. Dhilan has competed in Texas History Day the last three years, receiving first place his freshman year and his sophomore year, and then second his junior year in the Senior Group Website category. Teacher Rhett Carter has sponsored numerous Plano East students to compete in the Dallas Area Regional contest and has had several students advance to the state competition.Carter Holton has competed in Texas History Day for two years in Senior Individual Exhibit, placing second in the state in 2020 and first in 2021; each time he advanced to the National History Day competition. In 2021, Carter won first place at Nationals with his exhibit on the 1900 Galveston hurricane, “The 1900 Storm.” Megan Souchek, a teacher at New Caney High School, consistently has students advance to state each year; the last two years, she has consistently had students advance to Nationals.

During spring 2022, students and teachers read historical texts and primary documents, participated in online discussions, and researched the life of a fallen military member from the student’s region who is buried or memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Over the summer, the teams then headed to Hawaiʻi to engage in on-site learning opportunities, such as spending a night aboard The USS Missouri and visiting with military and local historians at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites and across the island of Oahu.

“Spending a night aboard the USS Missouri was an absolutely remarkable experience. As an Eagle Scout, it was an honor to participate in a color guard on the ship the evening we arrived,” reflected Dhilan Nag. “The staff gave us a breathtaking tour of the ship, and I especially remember the starboard side where I witnessed the sites of both a tragic kamikaze strike and the 1945 surrender of the Japanese Empire. I would relive this program 100 times more if I could.”

For the full press release click here.

Texas History Day Teacher Selected for Revolutionary Ideals, Summer Institute in Rhode Island

[added February 22, 2022]

Dr. Joseph Russell, American Studies teacher at Plano East High School, has been selected to represent Texas History Day (THD), an affiliate of National History Day (NHD), at a unique summer institute called Revolutionary Ideals, where 30 teachers from across the country will study the American Revolution and Founding Era in Providence, Rhode Island, during summer 2022. NHD is working with the Rhode Island Historical Society, which will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2022, on programming, events, and site visits.

Dr. Russell has sponsored numerous Plano East students in Texas History Day and guided them through the Dallas Area Regional contest where several students have advanced to the state competition and then the national contest. He also was named an NHD Master Teacher in February 2022 where he helped to develop a set of student guides that will connect NHD categories with resources in the Library of Congress. 

Over the course of six months, the selected teachers will learn about and research the context of the ideals behind the American Revolution and Early Republic. After the institute, teachers will work in pairs to create lesson plans relating to the founding ideals of the revolutionary era.

Teachers will travel to Rhode Island and engage in site-specific learning coordinated by the Rhode Island Historical Society from July 10 to July 17, 2022. The program culminates with teachers submitting lesson plans for an upcoming NHD publication.

Revolutionary Ideals is one aspect of National History Day’s programming under the larger initiative A More Perfect Union. To that end, NHD is partnering with various partners to commemorate the semiquincentennial of the United States.

Revolutionary Ideals is generously funded by Tom Lauer.

For full press release, click here.

Two Texas History Day Student-Teacher Teams Chosen for Elite NHD Summer Institute in Hawai’i

[added January 20, 2022]

Dhilan Nag of Plano East High School and Carter Holton of New Caney High School, along with their sponsoring teachers (Rhett Carter–Plano East High School and Megan Souchek–New Caney High School) are going to Hawai’i! They were selected from 54 applicants to be part of the 16 team group to participate in the Sacrifice for Freedom®: World War II in the Pacific Student and Teacher Institute through National History Day. The program is sponsored by the Pearl Harbor Historic Site Partners, including Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Pacific Historic Parks, USS Missouri Memorial Association, and the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor.

Each student/teacher team will travel to Hawai’i–all expenses paid–to participate in the institute.  Over the spring, they will participate in a research project concerning World War II in the Pacific and concentrate on an individual from that time period from Texas. They will travel to Hawaiʻi in July to engage in on-site learning opportunities, including spending a night aboard The USS Missouri and visiting with military and local historians at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites and across the island of Oahu.

The Texas State Historical Association is so proud of these students and their teachers, who are longtime participants in the Texas History Day program. 

For the full press release click here.

Texas’s Own, Max Grinstein, Talks About His National First Place Jr. Historical Paper

[added August 19, 2020]

Max Grinstein won the top prize at National History Day in June with his Junior Historical Paper on the Fifth Circuit Four and their instrumental role in desegregating the Deep South. Grinstein spoke to “Our American Stories,” a nationally syndicated radio program, about his interesting topic! Have a listen: “Our American Stories”-Max Grinstein.

What is Texas History Day?

Each year thousands of students, encouraged by teachers and parents statewide, participate in the National History Day program in Texas. Texas History Day, an affiliate of NHD and is a highly regarded academic program for 6th through 12th grade students. Each year more than 65,000 Texas students join more than 500,000 students across the country for National History Day!

Texas History Day provides a framework for successful student projects. Each student bases their project on the same annual theme and rule book. Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research at libraries, archives, museums, historic sites, and more. Projects are not limited to any particular time period or geographic area. After analyzing and interpreting their source material, create a plan to present their findings to the peers and teachers before moving on to regional, state, and possibly national contests. Students can create and present original research papers, exhibits, performances, websites, and documentaries.

The student projects may be entered into competitions in the spring at one of our regional contests across Texas. Winners from each regional competition will advance to the state contest in Austin. Students who place first or second at our state contest advance to the National Contest held each June held at the University of Maryland at College Park.

In addition to discovering the exciting world of the past, Texas History Day also helps students develop the following attributes that are critical for future success:

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills   
  • Project management skills
  • Research and reading skills
  • Teamwork
  • Oral and written communication and presentation skills
  • Self-esteem and confidence

The Texas National History Day Program not only teaches students about history, it encourages them to participate in history!

Contest Information

NHD provides a framework for student project development. Students must research and build their project using the annual theme and NHD rules to participate in the contest. NHD is open to all students from 6th – 12th grades. Students may qualify for a number of special awards at the contest. In addition, the best entries from the paper category may be eligible for publication in the Texas Historian, the official journal of the Junior Historians of Texas.

Once you have chosen a historical topic related to the annual theme you will conduct primary and secondary research to prepare you to create your project. After you have analyzed and interpreted your sources and have drawn a conclusion about the significance of your topic, you will then be able to present your work in one of five ways: as a research paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a website. Each of the categories except papers can be created by a group of two to five students.

In the spring, you may enter your work into the regional contest where it will be judged by educators, professors, museum staff, and historians. If your work is chosen as one of the best, you will move on to the state’s NHD contest. As a winner at your state NHD contest, you will be eligible to attend the National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park in June. This is where the best National History Day projects from across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, International Schools of Asia, and Department of Defense Schools in Europe all meet and compete.

NHD Works

NHD provides a framework for success. It teaches essential skills, boosts performance, prepares students for college, and inspires participants to do more than they ever imagined they could. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out the National History Day Works program evaluation and see for yourself what NHD does for our Texas students.