HISTORY DAY

ON THIS
PAGE

Bonneville Speedway (1954)

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY

ON THIS PAGE:

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY IN UTAH

National History Day® in Utah is a year-round history education program serving 4th-12th grade students statewide. Through NHD, students learn history by doing history. They choose a topic from local, national, or world history that fits within NHD's annual theme. The theme for 2024-2025 is, "Rights and Responsibilities in History."

By participating in NHD, students learn how to do real historical research, analyze primary and secondary sources, and make an argument based on evidence. Then, they create a museum-style exhibit, documentary film, live performance, research paper, or a website to showcase their work. Students can opt into local tournaments each spring, which culminate in a state contest. Each summer, Utah's top projects compete at nationals in Washington, D.C.

GET INVOLVED

Three students smiling and having a good time on National History Day

>

STUDENT TOOLKIT

Student oriented tools, resources, videos, handouts, and more for each step of the NHD research process.

A group of elementary school students presenting their project

>

TEACHER RESOURCES

Teacher tools, professional development, and standards.

Two young students proudly holding awards

>

CONTESTS

Hop to the contest that serves your school for registration, deadlines, contest dates, and details.

A student presenting his project to one of the judges

>

BE A JUDGE

Sign up to judge at an NHD Utah contest near you.

Two students smiling in front of their digital presentation on a laptop

>

PROJECT GALLERY

Check out Utah student work in NHD's five creative categories.

An elderly judge smiling at the camera with a student contestant

>

NOTEWORTHY

NHD Utah student and alumni highlights.

Ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Ut sed tempor mauris, eget ultrices turpis ornare nulla.

Ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Ut sed tempor mauris, eget ultrices turpis ornare nulla.

WATCH: I Love History Day

Students dive into research topics of their choice and create powerful presentations to showcase what they learn.

Teacher of the Year

The Mike Johnson Teacher of the Year Award recognizes excellence and service to National History Day in Utah.

LEARN MORE

A teacher happily standing next to a National History Day banner

Ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Ut sed tempor mauris, eget ultrices turpis ornare nulla.

Video: Why History Day

Students dive into research topics of their choice and create powerful presentations to showcase what they learn.

Teacher of the Year

The Mike Johnson Teacher of the Year Award recognizes excellence and service to National History Day in Utah.

LEARN MORE

FAQ

Who can participate?

Any student, grades 4-12.

Can I participate if my school does not?

YES! No teacher sponsor is necessary to compete as an independent student in the local regional competition.

What is the cost?

It is FREE!

Is the program limited to Utah history?

No. Topics can be selected from local, national, and world history.

What are the five creative categories National History Day offers?

Students can choose to create an exhibit, a documentary film, a paper, a live performance, or a website to present their work.

"By doing these projects, not only do you feel that you have a place in a vast universe, you feel more empathetic. Human."

-MANETTE, NHD UTAH STUDENT

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

SINCE 2017

Since 2017, the Utah History Day Teacher of the Year Award is given to an outstanding UHD teacher in honor of Mike Johnson, who directed this program from 1991-2006. Mike was respected and loved by the teachers and schools he served throughout the state, and he cultivated a dynamic approach to history education through what was then called the Utah History Fair.

Winners receive $500 and are nominated for the national Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award.

2023: Darlene Tanner, Diamond Valley Elementary and Melinda Reay, Skyline High School

2022: Cali Dansie Burgess, Timberline Middle School

2021: Elizabeth Halloran, Westland Elementary

2020: Lisa Pockrus, Ogden High School

2019: Melissa Crandall, Union Middle School (Sandy)

RESULTS

PROGRAM HISTORY

SINCE 1980

Our program got its start in 1980 in the History Department at Utah State University. Influenced by the Chicago Metro History Fair, Ohio, West Virginia, and National History Day, History Professor Errol Jones began work to create a history research-based competition for Utah’s youth. With help from colleagues at USU, including then History Department Chair Ross Peterson and the late College Dean William Lye, Jones worked throughout 1980 to raise the money to bring the program to fruition. Start-up money came from many sources including Utah State University. The Utah State Board of Education donated over $20,000 during the summer of 1980. In October of 1980, the Utah Endowment for the Humanities supplied over $25,000 and provided the final key to getting the Utah History Fair started.

Professor Jones and Assistant Director Shannon Hoskins began meeting educators along the Wasatch Front in November. They conducted 10 workshops with educators and 45 in-class presentations to 1,500 students and community members. They worked with 71 teachers in 31 schools and 14 school districts. Four regional competitions were held. At the state contest, judges selected 12 projects to represent Utah at the National History Day Contest in Maryland. During that first year, nearly 500 students competed in the Utah History Fair. Delmont Oswalt, Director of the Utah Endowment for the Humanities, decided to support the Utah History Fair an additional year. Since its inception in 1980, the Utah History Fair has continued to grow and turn thousands of Utah’s kids into historians.

In 2013, Utah History Fair became Utah History Day when it adopted the nationally recognized moniker, and was transferred from Utah State University to the Utah Division of State History.

To listen to the story of the “Founding of the Utah History Fair,” visit the “Beehive Archive”. “Beehive Archive” is a program of the Utah Humanities Council, formerly the Utah Endowment for the Humanities.

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR

Sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis ncommodo consequat. Durit in vulputate velit esse molestie. Sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis ncommodo consequat. Durit in vulputate velit esse molestie.

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR

Sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis ncommodo consequat. Durit in vulputate velit esse molestie. Sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis ncommodo consequat. Durit in vulputate velit esse molestie.

PROGRAM HISTORY

SINCE 1980

Our program got its start in 1980 in the History Department at Utah State University. Influenced by the Chicago Metro History Fair, Ohio, West Virginia, and National History Day, History Professor Errol Jones began work to create a history research-based competition for Utah’s youth. With help from colleagues at USU, including then History Department Chair Ross Peterson and the late College Dean William Lye, Jones worked throughout 1980 to raise the money to bring the program to fruition. Start-up money came from many sources including Utah State University. The Utah State Board of Education donated over $20,000 during the summer of 1980. In October of 1980, the Utah Endowment for the Humanities supplied over $25,000 and provided the final key to getting the Utah History Fair started.

Professor Jones and Assistant Director Shannon Hoskins began meeting educators along the Wasatch Front in November. They conducted 10 workshops with educators and 45 in-class presentations to 1,500 students and community members. They worked with 71 teachers in 31 schools and 14 school districts. Four regional competitions were held. At the state contest, judges selected 12 projects to represent Utah at the National History Day Contest in Maryland. During that first year, nearly 500 students competed in the Utah History Fair. Delmont Oswalt, Director of the Utah Endowment for the Humanities, decided to support the Utah History Fair an additional year. Since its inception in 1980, the Utah History Fair has continued to grow and turn thousands of Utah’s kids into historians.

The program was transferred to the Utah Division of State History (now Utah Historical Society) in 2013, and the name changed to align with the National History Day brand. As the state's official National History Day affiliate, NHD Utah has operated continuously since 1980, serving students in urban, suburban, and rural communities statewide.

To listen to the story of the “Founding of the Utah History Fair,” visit the “Beehive Archive”. “Beehive Archive” is a program of the Utah Humanities Council, formerly the Utah Endowment for the Humanities.

PROGRAM HISTORY

SINCE 1980

Our program got its start in 1980 in the History Department at Utah State University. Influenced by the Chicago Metro History Fair, Ohio, West Virginia, and National History Day, History Professor Errol Jones began work to create a history research-based competition for Utah’s youth. With help from colleagues at USU, including then History Department Chair Ross Peterson and the late College Dean William Lye, Jones worked throughout 1980 to raise the money to bring the program to fruition. Start-up money came from many sources including Utah State University. The Utah State Board of Education donated over $20,000 during the summer of 1980. In October of 1980, the Utah Endowment for the Humanities supplied over $25,000 and provided the final key to getting the Utah History Fair started.

Professor Jones and Assistant Director Shannon Hoskins began meeting educators along the Wasatch Front in November. They conducted 10 workshops with educators and 45 in-class presentations to 1,500 students and community members. They worked with 71 teachers in 31 schools and 14 school districts. Four regional competitions were held. At the state contest, judges selected 12 projects to represent Utah at the National History Day Contest in Maryland. During that first year, nearly 500 students competed in the Utah History Fair. Delmont Oswalt, Director of the Utah Endowment for the Humanities, decided to support the Utah History Fair an additional year. Since its inception in 1980, the Utah History Fair has continued to grow and turn thousands of Utah’s kids into historians.

The program was transferred to the Utah Division of State History (now Utah Historical Society) in 2013, and the name changed to align with the National History Day brand. As the state's official National History Day affiliate, NHD Utah has operated continuously since 1980, serving students in urban, suburban, and rural communities statewide.

To listen to the story of the “Founding of the Utah History Fair,” visit the “Beehive Archive”. “Beehive Archive” is a program of the Utah Humanities Council, formerly the Utah Endowment for the Humanities.

OUR PARTNERS

CONTACT US

For more information about National History Day in Utah, contact:

[email protected]

(801) 245-7253

CONTACT US

Please note: National History Day does not censor student entries based upon content. This means that the views and opinions expressed in student entries are those of the students and/or the sources cited in their projects. They may not represent the views or opinions of the Utah Historical Society.