Winners of the 2009 Idaho Governor's Award. (Click on image for larger view.) Read a list of awards and special awards

View the 2009 National History Day in Idaho photos: entries and awards

MelissaTyler

National Winners Junior Group Exhibit

Marissa Lords & Tyler Stephens

Rocky Mountain Middle School

Idaho Falls

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY IN IDAHO

National History Day in Idaho (formerly Idaho History Day) invites students to research and develop topics of local, state, national, or world significance that relate to the annual theme and show significance in history.

Information updated October, 2009

The 2009-2010 theme is "Innovation in History: Impact and Change "

Two hundred ninety seven students from around the state participated in 2008-2009 National History Day in Idaho, held at the College of Idaho. See above for a listing of award recipients.

JUDGES NEEDED FOR 2010 CONTESTS!

National History Day in Idaho is looking for volunteers to help judge student entries at the Regional and State level contests. If you have a love of History and enjoy interacting with Idaho's best and brightest students, this is a great opportunity!

Please contact the area coordinator as soon as possible for specific information.

JUDGES NEEDED FORM

Regional Contact Information and Dates
Regional History Day Entry Form
Interested in Idaho State history? Read our guide on "Tips for Researching Idaho." (Note: The document is designed primarily for student and novice researchers who wish to investigate Idaho topics, but it also includes more in-depth information for those wishing to participate in the Idaho and National History Day program.)
Possible Idaho Topics for Research
Topic ideas for " Innovations in Idaho"

What is National History Day in Idaho?

The History Day program provides exciting way for students to study and learn about historical issues, ideas, people, and events. This yearlong educational program fosters academic achievement and intellectual growth. In addition to acquiring useful knowledge and perspective during the series of regional, state, and national competitions, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will help them manage and use information now and in the future.

Starting in the fall, curriculum and contest materials are distributed to History Day coordinators and teachers throughout the country from the National History Day office located on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. Students are invited to conduct research on a topic of their choice that fits with the annual theme. To receive annual History Day information, contact your state coordinator.

Topics for History Day research can have family, local, state, national, or world significance. Whatever topic is chosen, students are encouraged to conduct both primary and secondary research. After analyzing and interpreting their information, students present their findings in papers, exhibits, performances, web sites, or documentary presentations that are evaluated by historians and educators. Students can choose to work individually or in groups of two to five on their entries.

For further information contact:

National History Day in Idaho Office Karen Grindle, Coordinator Idaho History Day Idaho Historical Museum 610 N Julia Davis Drive Boise, Idaho 83702 (208) 334-2120, ext. 19 E-mail
The National History Day Office 0119 Cecil Hall University of Maryland College Park, Maryland 20742 (301) 314-9739 http://nationalhistoryday.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade levels can participate?
Can a student not enrolled in a public school participate?
What is this year's theme?
How do I start my research?
How do I find out about categories?
How do I find out the rules?
How does a student compete in a regional competition?
How does a student take part in the state competition?
How does a student take part in the national competition?
Is there an entry fee?
Are there prizes for the winners?
How do I apply for scholarships ?

What grade levels can participate?
There are three age divisions: Youth (grades 4-5), Junior (grades 6-8), and Senior (grades 9-12). Regional and state competitions are open to all age divisions. The national competition is for junior and senior divisions only.

Can a student not enrolled in a public school participate?
History Day is open to all the students of Idaho. Public, charter, private, and home schooled students are all encouraged to participate.

What is this year's theme?
Every year the competition is based around a unique theme. The 2009-2010 theme is "Innovation in History: Expressions, Ingenuity, Enterprise ." 2010 Theme Innovation in History NHD format

How do I start my research?

In a nutshell, you will choose a topic that is appropriate for the annual theme, research your topic using primary and secondary sources, choose a category to show your findings, and present your project to judges for evaluation. The links below provide more information to help you get started in your History Day quest. (PDF format)

Creating a History Day Entry

Tips for Researching Idaho revised08 (go to page 29)

For additional hints on research strategies http://www.nationalhistoryday.org.

For some possible Idaho-specific topics: Idaho resources.

How do I find out about categories?
Students may choose to present their topics in one of five categories: Documentary, Exhibit, Historical Paper, Performance, or Web Site

Rules for All Categories

Rules for Documentaries

Rules for Exhibits

Rules for Historical Papers

Rules for Performances

Rules for Web Sites College of Idaho

Dr. Steve Maughan, College of Idaho

Janet Gallimore, ISHS Director

Jess Walters, ISHS Trustee with

College of Idaho Scholarship Winners

Jon Atkinson,Sun Valley $5,000 and

Silas Domy, Kellogg $20,000

How do I find out the Contest Rules?
Students who wish to enter their History Day projects in the competition must follow all general and specific rules for their entry categories. A complete copy of the Contest Rule Book may be downloaded from the National History Day web site. NHD Contest Rule Book (PDF format)

NEW WEB SITE RULE: Beginning 2009-2010, all History Day Web Site entries MUST be created using the Weebly program found on the National History Day web site. The portal link to the Weebly site available on the NHD home page http://nhd.org

For further information on web site development, see Rules for Creating Your "Weebly" Web Site. To view the blog from NHD's Live Discussion on Web Sites, go to http://nhd.org/CategoryWebsite.htm.

How does a student compete in a regional competition?
The first step in the competition is to participate in a regional competition. There are currently six History Day regions in Idaho. To find out more about your local competition, contact the regional coordinator closest to you.

Regional Contact Information and Dates

Regional Entry Form

We are currently looking for a person or persons to fill the Regional Coordinator position in the Pocatello area. If interested, please contact Karen Grindle, Idaho State Coordinator idahohistoryday@ishs.idaho.gov. Currently, students in Bear Lake County, Bannock County, and Caribou County will participate in the Southeastern Regional competition in Idaho Falls. Power County, Oneida County and Franklin County students will participate in the South Central Regional competition in Rupert. See the "Regional Contact Information and Dates " schedule for more information.

How does a student take part in the state competition?

The 2010 National History Day in Idaho contest will be on Friday, April 16th at the College of Idaho. To be eligible for the state competition, a student must first compete in one of the regional competitions. Top finishers in each category at the regional contests can compete in the state competition held at the College of Idaho. For more information contact your state history day coordinator.

Youth papers

                                    Karen Grindle
                                    History Day Coordinator
                                  Idaho Historical Museum
                                    610 N Julia Davis Drive
                                    Boise, Idaho 83702
                                    (208) 334-2120, ext. 19
                                    E-mail

Eli Whitney & Rachel Carson

2009 Winners--Youth Division

How does a student take part in the national competition?
Top finishers in the junior and senior divisions of the state-level competition are eligible to compete in the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest held on the University of Maryland campus at College Park, MD. Qualifying students will receive registration information for the national competition at the state awards ceremony. The 2010 competition will be June13-17th.

Is there an entry fee?

There is an $8.00 fee to enter a regional competition and a $12.00 fee to enter the state competition

REGIONAL HISTORY DAY ENTRY FEES: Checks for Regional History Day entry fees may be made payable to your area's Regional History Day Coordinator. Please Indicate on the "memo" line that the check is for History Day and the name of the student(s) being paid for. See Regional Contact Information and Dates for specific coordinator names.

STATE HISTORY DAY ENTRY FEES: Checks for the State History Day competition ONLY should be made payable to the Idaho State Historical Society. Please Indicate on the "memo" line that the check is for History Day and the name of the student(s) being paid for.

Are there prizes for the winners?
Students may win a wide variety of prizes during National History Day in Idaho. Most regional contests award ribbons and/or medals as prizes. First and second place winning entries from each regional level contest of the National History Day in Idaho program are eligible to compete at the state level competition. Awards presented at the state contest include ribbons, medals, scholarships, cash prizes, gift certificates, books, organization memberships, etc. To be eligible for any of these awards, students must first compete in a regional program. First and second place entries from the junior and senior divisions of the Idaho state competition may advance to the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest held at the University of Maryland the second week of June. The national contest also has a wide range of special prizes. For a complete listing of available Student Awards and Special Prizes, check out http://nhd.org/SpecialPrizes.htm.

2010 National History Day in Idaho Special Awards:

The College of Idaho $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 Scholarships—Outstanding 9th, 10th, or 11th grade Individual Entries, any category; $500 Scholarship all participants
Idaho Centennial Scholarship $2,000—"Outstanding 11th or 12th grade Individual Entry on an Idaho Topic." Scholarship for use at any Idaho College or University (Teacher of student also receives $250)
Idaho Governor's Trophy $400--"Grand Prize Entry," any division, category
Boise State University $250—"Outstanding Senior Division Entry", any category; $200—Outstanding Junior Division Entry, any category
Charles Redd Center for Western Studies $100--"Outstanding Senior and Junior Division Historical Papers on a Western Topic"
Idaho AFL-CIO $100--"Outstanding entry on Organized Labor," any division, category
MaryJane Oatman Wak-Wak $50-- "Outstanding Entry on Native American History," any division, category
Micron Foundation $100--"Outstanding Entry on a Technological Topic," any division, category
Preservation Idaho $100 and Merle Wells Historic Preservation $200--"Outstanding Entry on a Historical Preservation Topic," any division, category
JR Simplot Company Foundation $100--"Outstanding Entry on an Agricultural Topic," any division, category
E Clampus Vitus $250 scholarship--"Outstanding Historical Paper on Preservation Topic," any division (winner's paper will be published by E Clampus Vitus)
Friends of the History Museum $50 each—"Outstanding Youth, Junior and Senior Division Entry on an Idaho Topic," any category
Idaho Library Association—Book for the "Best Use of Primary Sources in an Entry," any division, category
Military History Museum--Book, one-year Military History Museum membership, trophy--"Outstanding Entry on Military History", junior or senior division, individual or group exhibit category

How do I Apply for Scholarships?
To be eligible for the College of Idaho or Centennial scholarships, you must be in the Senior Division and enter as an Individual (not as one of a group). Scholarships are awarded at the State History Day competition only. To be considered for one you must:

STEP 1: Compete in the Regional History Day competition in an Individual Category, and finish in 1st or 2nd place so that you qualify to compete at the state contest.
STEP 2: Compete in the National History Day in Idaho state-level competition.

The College of Idaho Scholarships ($20,000, $10,000 and $5,000) will be awarded to superior 9th - 11th grade entries in any Senior Individual Category.

Idaho Centennial Scholarship ($2,000) will be awarded to a 11th or 12th grade student with a superior entry in any Individual Category that focuses on an Idaho topic.
E Clampus Vitus Scholarship ($250) will be awarded to superior Historical Paper on preservation topic. Scholarship will be placed in an IDEAL account for student's higher education. Student paper will be published in the organization's journal.