On May 12 and 13, 2010, over 750 students from across the Commonwealth will converge on Millersville University for the National History Day in Pennsylvania State Contest. Over 100 judges will examine nearly 500 entries to select the best of the best to represent Pennsylvania at the Kenneth C. Behring National History Day contest in College Park this June.

Throughout the year, students have conducted research, analyzed historical sources, drawn conclusions, and developed projects to demonstrate what they have learned about topics of their own choosing.  Relating their topics to the annual theme of Innovation:  Impact and Change, the projects fall into one of five categories:  historical papers, websites, documentaries, performances, and exhibits.  Over the two day course of the event, students will present their research to the teachers, professors, and professional historians who have volunteered their time to serve as judges.  The winners will compete in the National contest at the University of Maryland at College Park, MD, in June.

Kevin Wagner, the Social Studies Program Chair for Grades 6-12 in the Carlisle Area School District, stated that “History Day shows students how the mundane and ordinary can be the fantastic and extraordinary, changing our society and culture forever and serves as a microscope by which we can examine our local, state, and national community to find out how ordinary people and events really can and do make a difference.”

 “The program really brings history to life for the students.  For many of them this is the first time they really see that history is something that involved real people grappling with the most significant problems of their time” says National History Day in Pennsylvania State Coordinator, Jeff Hawks.  To which Wagner adds:  “Coupled with the research and team-building skills the program requires, students learn to interact with the past, the present and the future.”

The students who come to the State Contest have already competed successfully at one of eleven Regional Contests.  Overall, approximately 6000-7000 students, teachers, parents and judges take part in this state-wide year-long program.  History Day is a nationally recognized program of academic excellence that engages students in a positive learning environment and enhances student achievement.

“These students have taken responsibility for their own education,” says Hawks, who also serves as the Education Director for the Army Heritage Center Foundation.  “They are extraordinary students, especially considering the distractions kids face these days.  This program challenges students to look beyond the facts and figures and delve into the process of history, and you can see the results in the quality of the projects that will be on display at the State Contest.”

National History Day in Pennsylvania is sponsored by the Army Heritage Center Foundation, located in Carlisle, PA, and National History Day, Inc. For more information, please contact Jeffrey G. Hawks,  Education Director, AHCF and National History Day in PA State Coordinator at 717-258-1102 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .