Join the Alumni Network

Over the past 50 years, National History Day® (NHD) has touched the lives of millions of students. Are you one of them? If so, you can be part of our growing alumni network. NHD alumni are vital to the success and longevity of the program. They serve as judges, mentors, and supporters of the program at all contest levels.

Female alumni giving speech at a podium outside on stage

We would love to hear from you!

“NHD was an amazing experience and is something I have carried with me for years. Giving back by teaching others and volunteering to judge has been equally rewarding. I would encourage all alumni, family members, and friends who supported us to get involved in their areas to help foster the next generation of historians.”

– Amma Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin, Kansas (1996)

“My employer has a policy where every year we’re allowed to take time off for a volunteer cause. For the past 2 years, I’ve used my volunteer time off to help our local History Day events and volunteer as a judge.”

– Jonathan Lautaha, Hawaiʻi (2004–2008)

“I came back from College Park that year completely pumped. I immediately contacted the Iowa NHD coordinator, told her my story, and volunteered to do whatever I could to help the Iowa program… Clueless 22-year-old Crystal had no idea that one could actually make a career out of doing NHD, but the stars aligned for me to be hired as the Iowa coordinator about 18 months later.”

– Crystal Johnson, Iowa (1989–1992)

Acclaimed Alumni

Fieri said that winning the local and state National History Day Contests was a “really big deal” for him. “It was an influential time for me and was a huge launch pad, kinda like seeing the forest for the trees,” recalled Fieri.  “After that, I finished the school year with better grades than I had ever had and went on to high school.”

The Ferndale Enterprise, 2/3/2017

Alumni Profiles

Alison Velez

NHD 1991, 1992, 1993

Amma Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin

NHD 1996

Anna Roberts

NHD 2006-2009

Crystal Johnson

NHD 1990, 1991, 1992

Daniel Williams

NHD 1990-1994

Demetrio Sierra

NHD 1994, 1995

Emily Stephenson

NHD 2002

Gretchen Green

NHD 1990, 1991, 1992

Ja’Corie Maxwell

NHD 2007-2022

James Skelley

NHD 1994-2000

Jon Gillum

NHD 1988-1994

Jonathan Lautaha

NHD 2004-2008

Katie O’Neal

NHD 1999

Marisa Atkinson (Campbell)

NHD 1991

Matthew Broussard

NHD 2010-2016

Patricia Akhimie

NHD 1992

Richard Hodges

NHD 1980

Sarah Pharaon

NHD 1991, 1992, 1994

Shannon Lange

NHD 2004-2009

Shelley Pearsall

NHD 1982, 1983, 1984

Sherry Rollo

NHD 1990-1993