Frankfort, KY - More than one hundred student historians are headed to Frankfort for Kentucky's National History Day contest on Saturday, April 21, at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.
Students from across the commonwealth in grades 6- 12 have prepared projects in various categories, including documentary, historical exhibit, performance, and research paper connected to this year’s theme of "Triumph and Tragedy in History." This year also introduces a new Web site category for student projects. The topics of the student projects range from local and state history to American and world history.
Winners who receive cash prizes include the Kentucky History Award given to the best project (junior or senior division) that documents and analyzes a Kentucky history topic (courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society); the African American History Awards given to the best project in the junior and senior divisions that relates to an African American theme (courtesy of LINKS, Inc., Frankfort-Lexington Chapter); and the Kentucky’s National History Day Teacher of the Year Award, (courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society). College scholarships are also awarded, courtesy of Georgetown College, to sophomore, junior, or senior high school students who win first place in an Individual category at the district and state competition level.
"Students who participate in National History Day not only achieve academically, but they also become very enthusiastic about history," says NHD state coordinator Kate Hesseldenz of the Kentucky Historical Society. "Students get so immersed in their topics that they become engaged with history."
The National History Day program is an annual, year- long program designed to promote the teaching and learning of history in America's schools. Students analyze the historical significance of their topics and present conclusions in dramatic performances, imaginative exhibits, multimedia documentaries, Web sites, and research papers to audiences throughout the country.
In Kentucky, the program is coordinated by the Kentucky Historical Society. Each spring, district coordinators organize five district contests, with 1500 students participating in the program statewide, which lead to the state competition. The National History Day program culminates with the national competition at the University of Maryland each June.
For more information on Kentucky’s National History Day, visit our Web site.
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An agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, since 1836, has provided connections to the past, perspective on the present, and inspiration for the future. KHS operates the Old State Capitol, the Kentucky Military History Museum, and its headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Since 1999, the thirty-million- dollar Center has welcomed more than one million visitors. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit the Web site.