Please note that there are updated rules for the overall contest and for the different categories.
National History Day in Wisconsin
Wisconsin State Contest
Approximately 16,000 students complete a NHD project in Wisconsin. Over 400 students from all corners of the state will be competing at the 2024 State Contest! We don't share those numbers to intimidate you, but to show you what an accomplishment it is to compete at the State Contest. We are proud of all our NHD contestants and are counting down the days until April 20!
Good luck! We can't wait to see your project!
Day of Schedule
7:45AM – 8:45AM – Documentary Testing – ( Grainger Hall )
7:45AM – 8:45AM – Exhibit Setup – ( Gordon Hall )
9:00AM – 12:00PM – Judging
- Documentary, Paper, Performance and Website in Grainger Hall
- Exhibit in Gordon Hall
1:15PM – 3:00PM –Finals Round judging (Grainger Hall & Gordon Hall)
- Only Documentaries will need to be present in person for Final Rounds.
4:15PM – 4:45PM – Junior Awards Ceremony – (Auditorium, Wisconsin Historical Society)
4:55PM – 5:25PM – Senior Awards Ceremony – (Auditorium, Wisconsin Historical Society)
Judge Evaluation Criteria
- 80% — Historical Quality
- Historical Argument
- Shows wide research
- Primary sources used
- Placed in historical context
- Multiple Perspectives
- Historical Accuracy
- Interpret and analyze
- Significance in History
- Strong thesis
- Student Voice throughout
- 20% — Clarity of Presentation
- Use of visual images
- Process paper and annotated bibliography clearly organized