About National History Day in Montana

National History Day in Montana is an educational outreach program under Montana State University's Education Department. It is in operation for the 2023-2024 school year. We are in the process of rebuilding the program after a hiatus, and we are thankful to all past leaders and teachers for their advice. 

NHD's main program is a social studies competition where students in grades 6-12 choose a historic topic related to an annual theme, develop a thesis, and conduct extensive research using sources such as libraries, archives, museums, and interviews. Students then present individually or with a group, in the form of a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Students may participate in school wide or local competitions, then a regional competition, and a state competition. The top two projects in each category, individual and group, in the Junior (grades 6-8) and Senior (grades 9-12) division at state, qualify for the national competition in Maryland which is in June.

NHD MT is sponsored by the Department of Education in the College of Education, Health, and Human Development at Montana State University-Bozeman. We are thrilled to have the support of the Education Department Chair, Dr. Sarah Pennington, a former NHD teacher, and the College of EHHD Dean, Dr. Tricia Seifert, a NHD alum.

The National Office estimates that "NHD reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year via its international student history contest and its wide range of teacher professional development programs, curriculum tools, and other educational activities." Learn more about the effectiveness of NHD. We are excited to offer NHD again to Montana's sixth-twelfth grade students and educators.

Goals for the 2023-2024 school year include:

  • to provide professional development opportunities for teachers that guide them in implementing NHD in their middle school or high school 
  • successfully support two regional contests and a state contest
  • to support a Montana delegation of students and teachers at the 50th National contest
  • to build academic, business, and cultural partnerships
  • to provide special awards and financial aid to students and/or schools
  • to recruit and retain judges and volunteers for NHD MT

If you are interested in learning more, participating, or volunteering please reach out!

You should also fill out this Interest Form to receive NHD MT updates.