National Contest

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Registration

Student and teacher registration for the National Contest will open on April 9 at 12:00 p.m. ET and close on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Continue to check this page for additional National Contest information (registration instructions, shipping to the contest, travel information, parking at UMD, and more).

Registrants who do not complete payment before the 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 13 deadline will face a $50 Late Fee. The late payment fee will increase to $60 on Thursday, May 15. If payment is not completed by Friday, May 16, the late fee will increase to $75. If you need to complete your payment after the May 13 deadline, you must contact the NHD National Office.

Refund Policy

Student/Chaperone Code of Conduct and Expectations

Teachers

Teachers attending the contest must register and pay the $65 teacher registration fee. If you are not planning to attend the contest, please still register, but you do not need to pay the teacher registration fee. Teachers who register and pay the fee will receive access to the latest NHD digital resources, entrance to the Monday night Teacher Social, and access to the Tuesday teacher workshops. In addition, they will receive access to contest week activities, including Day on the Hill, showcases at the Smithsonian Institute or White House Historical Association, and participation in any other teacher activities at the National Contest.

National Contest FAQs

What if I cannot attend the National Contest?

Please contact your affiliate coordinator ASAP. You can find their contact information here: nhd.org/affiliates. There will not be any virtual judging components. All judging will take place in person.

When will I be judged?

If you are in the Junior Division (grades 6–8), you will be judged on Monday, June 9, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you are in the Senior Division (grades 9–12), you will be judged on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You will receive your precise judging time and location when you check-in at the National Contest.

What should I expect during judging?

For the exhibit, website, and paper categories, the judges will interview you about your project during your judging time. You do not need to prepare any type of presentation – the judges will ask you questions about your project.

For the documentary and performance categories, you will show your documentary or performance to the judges, and then the judges will interview you following your project – the judges will ask you questions about your project.

You will receive your judging time/location when you check in at the National Contest. 

Do I need to attend the National Contest for the entire week?

No, you only need to be present for your judging time. All other events are optional.

Where can I find information about accessibility on the University of Maryland, College Park campus?

Please visit this page of the UMD website: https://accessibility.umd.edu/visitors-to-campus

Do I need a chaperone?

Yes, all students need a chaperone throughout the contest week. You will list the chaperone in your student account when you register. Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of the students in their charge. If you are staying in the dorms, you will need to list a chaperone who will be with you in the dorms when you register for housing. Chaperones do not need to register for the National Contest separately.

What safety measures are in place at the University of Maryland, College Park?

Please review this document.

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Travel and Shipping to the University of Maryland, College Park

For additional travel and campus information, visit the UMD Conference and Visitor services website.

Air Travel

Tip: When searching for a flight online, you can enter WAS for the airport code to search all three airports simultaneously.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport — BWI
BWI typically has the least expensive flight options. It is about a 30-minute drive (28.4 miles) from the University of Maryland, College Park. Public Transportation from BWI to College Park, MD: There is no longer a direct bus option between BWI and College Park. There is a MARC and Amtrak Station located at BWI. As there are frequent changes, construction, etc., please refer to their websites or Google Maps for the latest travel information.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport — DCA
Reagan is the closest airport option. It is about a 30-minute drive (17.8 miles) from the University of Maryland, College Park. Public Transportation from DCA to College Park, MD: The Washington Metro (subway) stops at DCA. Take the Blue Line toward Largo. You can transfer to the Green Line at L’Enfant Plaza. Take the Green Line toward Greenbelt and exit at College Park-UMD. The campus is located 1.5 miles from the Metrorail station. The website for Washington’s Metrorail system has system maps and schedules. As there are frequent changes, construction, etc., please refer to their website or Google Maps for the latest travel information. SmarTrip is the ticketing system for Metro. You can get a plastic SmarTrip card at any station or download the app and preload a digital SmarTrip card. You can find the details on both options here.

Dulles International Airport — IAD
Dulles is the furthest airport option. It is about a 1-hour drive (37.4 miles) from the University of Maryland, College Park. Public Transportation from IAD to College Park, MD: The Washington Metro (subway) stops at IAD. Board the Silver Line toward Largo Town Center. Then transfer to the Green Line at L’Enfant Plaza. Take the Green Line toward Greenbelt. Exit at College Park-UMD. The campus is located 1.5 miles from the Metrorail station. The website for Washington’s Metrorail system has system maps and schedules. As there are frequent changes, construction, etc., please refer to their website or Google Maps for the latest travel information. SmarTrip is the ticketing system for Metro. You can get a plastic SmarTrip card at any station or download the app and preload a digital SmarTrip card. You can find the details on both options here.

Train Travel

Amtrak
Amtrak serves the D.C. area. Visit Amtrak’s website. The closest station to the University is New Carrollton, where you will need to take a taxi or ride the Metro to the campus. At the New Carrollton Station, board the Metro and ride the Orange Line toward Vienna. Transfer to the Green Line at L’Enfant Plaza. Take the Green Line toward Greenbelt. Exit the Metro at College Park-UMD. The campus is located 1.5 miles from the Metrorail station. Alternatively, you may arrive at Union Station in downtown Washington, D.C., but a taxi would cost more from there. You could take the Metro (see below) from Union Station to College Park-UMD.

Metro/Metrorail
Washington’s Metrorail system website has maps and schedules. As there are frequent changes, construction, etc., please refer to their website or Google Maps for the latest travel information. SmarTrip is the ticketing system for Metro. You can get a plastic SmarTrip card at any station or download the app and preload a digital SmarTrip card. You can find the details on both options here. First time using Metro? Check out this helpful article.

Driving

All campus locations have a physical address that can conveniently guide you via any GPS-enabled device. We recommend you use the address for the Adele H. Stamp Student Union: 3972 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742.

Parking

If you purchase housing packages, parking is included in the rate, and there will be parking spots near the dorms. All other parking will be much more limited this year, as the University of Maryland lost many spaces/lots due to the Metro Purple Line construction.

To give everyone an equal opportunity to purchase parking permits, we will put the link and information on purchasing park on our website (nhd.org/national-contest) following registration closing. Check back on this page for further details.

Pending availability, representatives from the Department of Transportation Services will be available at registration during the following hours to assist with permit purchase and answer questions: Saturday, 2:00 pm–8:00 pm, and Sunday, 9:00 am–8:00 pm. Beginning Monday, guests should pre-purchase permits online or park in designated visitor parking lots and pay the hourly/daily fee. Permits may be purchased at the Department of Transportation’s office in Regents Drive Garage during business hours, 8:15 am–4:00 pm.

Shuttles

There are free National History Day campus shuttles to take you to various locations around the University of Maryland, College Park campus, College Park, and the College Park Metro Station. We will post the shuttle schedule here, once finalized.

Shipping

Map

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Contact Us

For assistance regarding the NHD National Contest, please review the following contact information.

• For general registration and contest questions, please email registration@nhd.org or call the National History Day office at 301-314-9739.
• For technical support issues, please email IT@nhd.org.
• For questions regarding on-campus housing and meals, please email NHDhousing@umd.edu or call 301-314-6637.
• For questions regarding payment, please email lorena@nhd.org.
• For press and media inquires, please email communications@nhd.org.

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Contest Week Programming

National History Day partners with museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions in Washington, D.C. to offer dynamic programming for students and teachers during contest week: from field trips to showcases featuring students’ projects to engaging activities and professional development opportunities.

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Contest Awards

he National Contest provides several types of awards for outstanding student entries. To find out about special prizes or awards at affiliate and local contests, contact your affiliate coordinator.