COLLEGE PARK, MD – June 4, 2025National History Day® (NHD) is proud to announce a slate of student showcases at cultural institutions in Washington, D.C., during its 2025 National Contest week. 90 student historical research projects – from papers and documentaries to performances and tabletop exhibits – will be displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, along with the White House Historical Association on Wednesday, June 11. All research projects reflect this year’s National History Day contest theme, Rights and Responsibilities in History.

47 student exhibits will be on display at the National Museum of American History (NMAH) on June 11 and will remain on display all day during opening hours. Also at NMAH, 13 student performances from 11 NHD affiliates will present their historical performances in a performance showcase from 12:30 to 5 pm. The performances will take place in the Hall of Music.

In addition to exhibits and performances on display at NMAH, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will present 18 student documentaries in the Oprah Winfrey Theater from 11:00 am to 3:30 p.m. National History Day National Contest entries from 15 different states will be represented at this documentary showcase.

Across the National Mall at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), a special “In Language There Is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola” Showcase will feature four students presenting two projects from Hawaiʻi who completed their NHD project in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and qualified at the Hawaiʻi affiliate contest. These students were invited to Washington, D.C. to share their work with a national audience. Their projects show perspectives and understanding vital to their culture and support larger community efforts that give life to Indigenous languages. The projects will be available to view at NMAI on Wednesday, June 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. as well as on Monday, June 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Finally, ten students have been selected for a virtual paper showcase at the White House Historical Association (WHHA), covering topics related to the history of the White House or the history of the presidency. These students, along with eight additional students, were invited to attend a writers’ workshop at The People’s House: A White House Experience on June 11. 

“Museums and cultural institutions in Washington, D.C. are essential to preserving our nation’s history, and the opportunity for middle and high school students to present research at the Smithsonian and the White House Historical Association is unparalleled,” said National History Day Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “We could not be more thankful for our continued partnerships with NMAH, NMAAHC, NMAI, and WHHA that provide the next generation of historians and leaders with these unique opportunities to showcase their work.”

Congratulations to the following students selected for this year’s National History Day showcase opportunities:

Exhibit Showcase – National Museum of American History

Students: Lexington B., Jayde R., Sara G.

NHD Affiliate: Alabama

Student: Revy C.

NHD Affiliate: Alaska

Students: Gyupin K., Rachael P.

NHD Affiliate: American Samoa

Student: Ruhi R.

NHD Affiliate: Arizona

Students: Grace O., Henry S., Haddie W., Clifton Eric W.

NHD Affiliate: Arkansas

Students: Augusta C., Felix C.

NHD Affiliate: California

Student: Madeleine Davis

NHD Affiliate: Colorado

Student: Jacob Brown

NHD Affiliate: Connecticut

Students: Zoe O., Sophie C., Amelia F., Jaden H.

NHD Affiliate: District of Columbia

Students: Emma F., Iyana M., Shae B., Thomas W.

NHD Affiliate: Delaware

Students: Sudhishna G., Hasini K.

NHD Affiliate: Florida

Students: Selena N., Gabriela G.

NHD Affiliate: Georgia

Student: Francisco Ignacio D. E.

NHD Affiliate: Guam

Students: Beck M., Cole H.

NHD Affiliate: Idaho

Student: Katherine T.

NHD Affiliate: Illinois

Students: Henry B., Sidhanth K.

NHD Affiliate: Indiana

Student: Abigail N.

NHD Affiliate: Iowa

Students: Victoria M., Joslyn H.

NHD Affiliate: Kansas

Students: Payton E., Kinley M., Paisleigh W.

NHD Affiliate: Kentucky

Students: Juliet S., Jeslyn G., Malachi M., Sebastian P.

NHD Affiliate: Louisiana

Student: Kennedy D.

NHD Affiliate: Maine

Students: Shiven T., Justin W.

NHD Affiliate: Maryland

Students: Lucy R., Ryan M.

NHD Affiliate: Massachusetts

Student: Tamberlyn M.

NHD Affiliate: Michigan

Student: Zoey D.

NHD Affiliate: Minnesota

Student: Audrey B.

NHD Affiliate: Missouri

Students: Lily H., Taylor H., Emily K.

NHD Affiliate: Montana

Student: Ciara O., Jade Y.

NHD Affiliate: New Hampshire

Student: Hengkun (William) C.

NHD Affiliate: NHD China

Students: Ariya A., Jiratida K., Ana V., Phatcharaporn S., Ming Hui (Michelle) Z.

NHD Affiliate: NHD International

Students: Jiwoo K., Regina (Haeun) K., Rhea L., Nabin W.

NHD Affiliate: NHD Korea

Student: Elsie-Mae C.

NHD Affiliate: North Carolina

Students: Morgan K., Kaitlyn D.

NHD Affiliate: North Dakota

Students: Bridget B., Demi B., Zoeya C., Ellie W.

NHD Affiliate: Ohio

Students: Sisaly H., Hannah H.

NHD Affiliate: Oklahoma

Student: Miles A.

NHD Affiliate: Pennsylvania

Students: Sanvi A., Gianna S.

NHD Affiliate: Rhode Island

Students: Cade A., Clayton B.

NHD Affiliate: South Carolina

Student: Abygail B.

NHD Affiliate: South Dakota

Students: Lizzie B., Katie H., Kyle H., Angel H.

NHD Affiliate: Tennessee

Students: Austin T., David O., Jack P.

NHD Affiliate: Texas

Students: Philo D., Quinn S.

NHD Affiliate: Utah

Students: Adela J., Lila M.

NHD Affiliate: Vermont

Students: Elsie C., Amelia S.

NHD Affiliate: Virginia

Student: Emogene S.

NHD Affiliate: Washington

Students: Lily N., Kaelyn S.

NHD Affiliate: Wisconsin

Students: Josephine B., Ellasyn K., Reagan V.

NHD Affiliate: Wyoming

Performance Showcase – National Museum of American History

Students: Ramsey K., Greyson M., Willow M., Lauren R.

NHD Affiliate: New Mexico

Students: Claire M., Meredith W.

NHD Affiliate: Nebraska

Student: Lili P.

NHD Affiliate: New York

Student: Henry W.

NHD Affiliate: Florida

Student: Jack G.

NHD Affiliate: Minnesota

Student: Madeline P.

NHD Affiliate: Colorado

Students: Nasir A., Maya T., Kadijah W., Kaliyah W., Musa W.

NHD Affiliate: New Jersey

Students: Elanor A., Juan M., Gavin N., Sophia P., Sofia S.

NHD Affiliate: Texas

Students: Vivian G., Kaylin M., Akanksha R.

NHD Affiliate: Washington

Student: Sunidhi Ajmera

NHD Affiliate: New York

Students: Tirzah C., Annabelle W., Surie Z.

NHD Affiliate: Maryland

Student: Felicity F.

NHD Affiliate: Texas

Students: Jonah H., Campbell H., Kyle M., Ava K. R., Elianna Y.

NHD Affiliate: North Carolina

Documentary Showcase – National Museum of African American History and Culture

Student: Nate A.

NHD Affiliate: Arkansas

Student: Brad W.

NHD Affiliate: Arizona

Students: Poiema B., Lucas M., Rebekah M., Enoch W.

NHD Affiliate: California

Student: Adrian G.

NHD Affiliate: Iowa

Student: Kaia S.

NHD Affiliate: Iowa

Student: Audrey H.

NHD Affiliate: Idaho

Student: Avani N.

NHD Affiliate: Illinois

Student: Lila S.

NHD Affiliate: Illinois

Student: Tabitha K.

NHD Affiliate: Indiana

Student: Christopher H.

NHD Affiliate: Maryland

Students: Jaycee A., Roan G.

NHD Affiliate: Missouri

Student: Thanapat (Hashi) L.

NHD Affiliate: North Carolina

Student: Alison W.

NHD Affiliate: New York

Students: Lily G., Aviana G., Ella H., Molly K., Yakira R.

NHD Affiliate: New York

Students: Joshua C., Joshua G., Joshua T.

NHD Affiliate: Ohio

Students: Annie K., Sydney M., Piper R., Taleah W.

NHD Affiliate: Oklahoma

Students: Aiman A., Adam E., Aisa M., Hamza M.

NHD Affiliate: Tennessee

Student: Victoria K.

NHD Affiliate: Washington

“In Language There Is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola” Showcase – National Museum of the American Indian

Student: Rylee K.

Student: A’hari G.

Student: Pristine P.

Student: Chukashali S.

NHD Affiliate: Hawaiʻi

Paper Showcase – White House Historical Association

Student: King L. W.

NHD Affiliate: Indiana

Student: Andrew R.

NHD Affiliate: South Carolina

Student: Lyndsey L.

NHD Affiliate: South Dakota

Student: Avner W. S.

NHD Affiliate: Connecticut

Student: Abhijay M.

NHD Affiliate: Indiana

Student: Addie L.

NHD Affiliate: Idaho

Student: Jiayi C.

NHD Affiliate: NHD International

Student: Abhay S.

NHD Affiliate: Massachusetts

Student: Bristol N.

Student: NHD Affiliate: Missouri

Student: Saira C.

NHD Affiliate: New York

Additional students selected to attend the White House Historical Association’s Writers’ Workshop:

Student: W. Ira P.

NHD Affiliate: Arizona

Student: Jacob D.

NHD Affiliate: Wyoming

Student: Eloise H.

NHD Affiliate: North Dakota

Student: Margaret M.

NHD Affiliate: Kansas

Student: Alice Z.

NHD Affiliate: Washington

Student: Andrew L.

NHD Affiliate: North Carolina

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About National History Day: NHD is a non-profit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. Established in 1974, NHD currently engages more than half a million students each year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest and supports teachers through professional development opportunities. Students present their research as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Projects compete first at the local and affiliate levels, where the top entries are invited to the annual National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by the Joyful Noise Charitable Foundation, The Better Angels Society, Bezos Family Foundation, Library of Congress, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Behring Global Educational Foundation, 400 Years of African American History Commission, and the National Park Service. For more information, visit nhd.org.

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