Maryland Students Recognized for Accomplishments in Program Sparking Critical Thinking
(Baltimore, MD) – Maryland Humanities congratulates all of the middle and high school students recently honored at the Maryland State House in Annapolis for their achievements at the 2024 National History Day competition. On February 24, 2025, students from Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Howard County, and Montgomery County schools received citations from State Senators and Delegates for receiving awards or honors at the national competition.
The National History Day competition involves more than 3,000 students from 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and international schools in China, Korea, and South Asia. Advancers to the National History Day Contest typically have won first or second place at the Maryland History Day State Contest.
The contest serves as a culmination of Maryland Humanities' Maryland History Day program, an affiliate of National History Day. For Maryland History Day, students create original documentaries, exhibits, performances, research papers, or websites exploring a historical topic of their choice, based on an annual theme. The program sparks critical thinking in students, and helps them develop their skills in research and analysis, writing, and public speaking.
Erin Spahr and Stephanie Gomer, who teach at Urbana Middle School in Frederick and Poolesville High School, respectively, also received recognition at the State House. Maryland Humanities named them the 2024 Maryland History Day Statewide Middle and High School Teachers of the Year.
The 2025 State Contest takes place on May 3 at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. For this year's theme, National History Day selected "Rights and Responsibilities in History." The 2025 National History Contest occurs June 9–13 at the University of Maryland, College Park.
To learn more, visit the Maryland History Day website. Anyone interested in volunteering for the State Contest may learn more and register here. For any questions or other information, please contact Stephanie Boyle, Program Officer for History, here.
Maryland History Day is supported by Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), National History Day®, and other funders that may be announced later.
The National History Day competition involves more than 3,000 students from 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and international schools in China, Korea, and South Asia. Advancers to the National History Day Contest typically have won first or second place at the Maryland History Day State Contest.
The contest serves as a culmination of Maryland Humanities' Maryland History Day program, an affiliate of National History Day. For Maryland History Day, students create original documentaries, exhibits, performances, research papers, or websites exploring a historical topic of their choice, based on an annual theme. The program sparks critical thinking in students, and helps them develop their skills in research and analysis, writing, and public speaking.
Erin Spahr and Stephanie Gomer, who teach at Urbana Middle School in Frederick and Poolesville High School, respectively, also received recognition at the State House. Maryland Humanities named them the 2024 Maryland History Day Statewide Middle and High School Teachers of the Year.
The 2025 State Contest takes place on May 3 at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. For this year's theme, National History Day selected "Rights and Responsibilities in History." The 2025 National History Contest occurs June 9–13 at the University of Maryland, College Park.
To learn more, visit the Maryland History Day website. Anyone interested in volunteering for the State Contest may learn more and register here. For any questions or other information, please contact Stephanie Boyle, Program Officer for History, here.
Maryland History Day is supported by Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), National History Day®, and other funders that may be announced later.
About Maryland Humanities
Maryland Humanities creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. For more information, visit www.mdhumanities.org. Maryland Humanities is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities; the State of Maryland; the Citizens of Baltimore County; private foundations; corporations; small businesses; and individual donors. Connect with Maryland Humanities on Facebook, X, Threads, Instagram, and YouTube.
Maryland Humanities creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. For more information, visit www.mdhumanities.org. Maryland Humanities is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities; the State of Maryland; the Citizens of Baltimore County; private foundations; corporations; small businesses; and individual donors. Connect with Maryland Humanities on Facebook, X, Threads, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Maryland History Day
Maryland History Day is an affiliate of National History Day and a year-long educational program of Maryland Humanities. More than 26,000 middle and high school students create original projects that explore a historical topic of their choice on an annual theme. Professional development for teachers is offered through online courses and platforms, summer teacher institutes, workshops, and classroom outreach. Maryland Humanities produces Maryland History Day. For more information, visit www.mdhistoryday.org. Connect with Maryland History Day on Facebook and Twitter (X).
Maryland History Day is an affiliate of National History Day and a year-long educational program of Maryland Humanities. More than 26,000 middle and high school students create original projects that explore a historical topic of their choice on an annual theme. Professional development for teachers is offered through online courses and platforms, summer teacher institutes, workshops, and classroom outreach. Maryland Humanities produces Maryland History Day. For more information, visit www.mdhistoryday.org. Connect with Maryland History Day on Facebook and Twitter (X).
About National History Day ® (NHD)
NHD is a non-profit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. The National History Day Contest was established in 1974 and currently engages more than half a million students every year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. 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 National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by HISTORY®, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Patricia Behring Foundation, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, World Education Foundation, the National Park Service, the 400 Years of African-American History Commission, the Better Angels Society, The Dr. Scholl Foundation, and individual donors. For more information, visit nhd.org.
NHD is a non-profit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. The National History Day Contest was established in 1974 and currently engages more than half a million students every year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. 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 National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by HISTORY®, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Patricia Behring Foundation, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, World Education Foundation, the National Park Service, the 400 Years of African-American History Commission, the Better Angels Society, The Dr. Scholl Foundation, and individual donors. For more information, visit nhd.org.