Last year, two participants in the HHFO when on to compete in the Regional NHD in Missouri event held at Missouri State University. Both placed among the top finishers and were invited to compete in the state-wide competition in Jefferson City. We could not be more proud of these young people and their achievements. Though it was the hard work and discipline demonstrated by these students that directly led to their success, we would like to think that the HHFO provided a environment in which they were able to receive valuable feedback and encouragement. We sincerely hope that more students will challenge themselves and enter future NHD competitions. And for some of our older students there is not time like the present to begin thinking about a potential project.
Regional 7 History Day Coordinator, Gail Emrie, and the History Department at Missouri State University, would like invite area homeschooled students to participate in this year’s National History Day contest. Missouri’s Region 7 contest will be held on Friday, February 28, 2014 in Plaster Student Union on the campus of Missouri State University. The theme for the contest this year is Rights and Responsibilities in History. The attached materials provide a more precise description of the theme, as well as suggestions on how topics might be developed. Additional information on the contest is available to you and your students on the state and national History Day websites http://whmc.umsystem.edu/nhd/nhdmain.html and http://www.nationalhistoryday.org/. The website of the MSU History Department (http://history.missouristate.edu/) has links to these sites.
For those students who qualify, the state History Day contest will be held Saturday, April 26, 2014 on the University of Missouri – Columbia campus. As was the case last year, there will be an on-line system of registration in place. Instructions, outlining how to register, will be made available later this fall. Registration will begin in December. Ms. Emrie has been kind enough to pass along the most recent rule book for the contest and a booklet produced by NHD with suggestions on how to approach this year’s theme for History Day, which can be accessed by following the hyper-linked text. These resources are also available in electronic form at the National History Day website, but if you would like a hard copies, Ms.Emrie would be happy to supply you with them. If you intend to participate, please respond by e-mail to [email protected] at your earliest convenience so she will be able to maintain an accurate group contact list for updates on this year’s contest. If you should have any questions, Ms. Emrie may also be reached by phone at 417.836.5915.
The NHD program is a very worthwhile endeavor. We hope that as you map out your academic year that you will consider making it a part of your agenda. Remember, students who complete a project in the Senior Divisions of the HHFO should have a leg up on their competition as they will have completed what is likely a very polished "first draft." Put all that hard work to use and perhaps your young person will find himself or herself serving as Missouri delegates to the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest in College Park, Maryland next summer!