Due to health concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s National History Day in Missouri state contest will be held online.
A news release says the competition is sponsored and organized by the State Historical Society of Missouri, which has been working with schools to transition the contest to a virtual platform.
From April 13-26, volunteer judges in Missouri and elsewhere are reviewing student projects that advanced from regional competitions to the state contest. The students compete in five project categories, including documentary, exhibit, performance, paper and website. State winners will compete at the virtual national contest in June, hosted by the University of Maryland-College Park.
This year’s state contest will be different from past competitions in several ways. Instead of meeting face-to-face with students, judging teams will communicate through e-mail and Zoom meetings. Students will present exhibit panels through PowerPoint slide shows and will upload documentaries to the internet. The most significant change is in the performance category. Rather than gathering to record group dramatic performances, which could pose safety concerns, students will provide scripts for judges to review. Finalists for the national competition will be announced April 27 through e-mail, social media and at nhdmo.org.