Each year nearly 3,000 students with their families and teachers gather at the University of Maryland, College Park for the week-long National Contest. They come from all fifty United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Department of Defense Schools in the Atlantic, and international schools in China, Korea, and elsewhere (NHD International). The excitement can be felt across the campus. 

The 2024 National Contest

June 9–13, 2024, University of Maryland, College Park

The NHD National Contest kicks off with a Welcome Ceremony to greet students and celebrate their hard work. Students then compete over several days in preliminary and final rounds.

The Awards Ceremony on the final day opens with a Parade of Affiliates, where students from every affiliate march and show off their local pride, much like during the Olympics. Watch the recorded 2023 Awards Ceremony at nhd.org/awardsceremony or view the photos here.

Beyond the NHD National Contest, students can check out Washington, D.C. by participating in our NHD-Explore program. There are many options, including museums and other historical sites, where students can learn about new topics for the upcoming year’s theme.

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Registration

Student and teacher registration for the National Contest will open April 10 at 12:00 p.m. ET and will close on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Continue to check this page for additional National Contest information (registration instructions, shipping to contest, travel information, parking at UMD, and more).

Registrants who do not complete payment before the 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 14 deadline will face a $50 Late Fee. The late payment fee will increase to $60 on Thursday, May 16. If payment is not completed by Friday, May 17, the late fee will increase to $75. If you need to complete your payment after the May 14 deadline, you must contact the NHD National Office.

Refund Policy

Student/Chaperone Code of Conduct

Teachers

Teachers attending the contest will need to register and pay the $60 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, NHD Explore passes, and participation in any other teacher activities at the National Contest.

Tuesday Teacher Workshops

Tuesday, June 11 – 9:00-11:00 a.m.

On Tuesday, June 11, join the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and National History Day (NHD). In the first hour, learn about resources and opportunities from the NEH and EDSITEment. Explore strategies to support your students in their History Day research and throughout the year. In the second hour, explore the 2025 Rights & Responsibilities in History theme and new NHD resources to bring into your classroom.

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 10, 2024 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 11, 2024 between 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You will receive your precise judging time and location at National Contest check-in.

What if my project advances to finals?

Documentary and Performance categories are the only categories where students need to be present for the finals round of judging. 

For the Junior Division (grades 6–8), documentary and performance finalists will be announced Monday evening (on this page of the NHD website, the NHD app, and on the TVs in Stamp Student Union). Junior Division finals judging will take place on Tuesday evening between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. For the Senior Division (grades 9–12), documentary and performance finalists will be announced Tuesday evening (on this page of the NHD website, the NHD app, and on the TVs in Stamp Student Union). Senior Division finals judging will take place on Wednesday morning between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Exhibit, Paper, and Website categories will not be notified if their project advanced to finals, therefore, they do not need to be present for the finals round.

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.

What is NHD-Explore?

Please watch this video to learn more about the NHD-Explore program.

How do I ship something to the University of Maryland, College Park?

To ship items to the University of Maryland, College Park, please follow these instructions.

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 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) on Thursday, May 16 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

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.

Shipping

To ship items to the University of Maryland, College Park, please follow these instructions.

Map

Check out this map of the University of Maryland, College Park to familiarize yourself with the important NHD locations around campus.

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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. We call these opportunities NHD-Explore (or NHDx for short).

Watch this video to learn more about additional opportunities during the NHD National Contest week.

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Contest Awards

The 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.

The National Contest Awards Ceremony will be Thursday, June 13. The ceremony will be livestreamed and available at https://nhd.org/en/awards-ceremony/.

Contest Category Awards 

Special Prizes

View the list of current special prizes available to participants of the National Contest.

Two entries from each NHD Affiliate (one in the Junior Division and one in the Senior Division) have the opportunity to receive Outstanding Affiliate Awards.

Quality teachers are critical to student success. National History Day recognizes their outstanding work and dedication to their students, awarding a teacher in each division with the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Patricia Behring Foundation. 

PATRICIA BEHRING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS 2023

Junior Division: Terry Kaldhusdal, Kettle Moraine Middle School, Dousman, Wisconsin

Senior Division: Sarah Razee, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 

Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award Winners 2022

Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award Winners 2021

Junior Division: Suzanne Zmijewski Lim, Winthrop L. Chenery Middle School, Belmont, Massachusetts

Senior Division: Jeni Boulanger, Oak Hills High School, Oak Hills, California

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Judging

Are you interested in judging for the NHD National Contest? The 2024 National Contest will be held in person at the University of Maryland, College Park. Judge registration is now open. For more information, and to register as a judge, click here.