COLLEGE PARK, MD – June 4, 2025 – National 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.