Posted 1 July, 2026
Sixty-nine Iowa students recently competed in the National History Day® National Contest, held in College Park, Maryland, from June 14–18. At the National Contest, projects from Iowa received two medals, eight top-ten finalist awards, and eight honorable mentions, celebrating their scholastic achievements.
To coincide with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, NHD’s 2026 theme was Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. Sixty-nine students from across Iowa joined more than half a million students globally who completed historical research projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. After completing their research and designing a project, students competed in a series of contests beginning at the local level. The top students from 49 states, Washington D.C., U.S. territories, and international schools advance to the annual National Contest. Only 3,000 students advanced to the top level this year.
“National History Day provides an incredibly enriching experience for students in middle and high school,” said NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “NHD students learn to research, analyze, and effectively articulate their position. Just one percent of this year’s NHD participants advanced to the national level, so all students should be proud of their achievements. NHD will benefit students far beyond academics as they become successful professionals, community-minded leaders, and engaged citizens.”
540 historians and education professionals served as judges for the students' work. More than 100 students took home cash prizes between $250 and $2,000 for superior work in a particular category of judging, along with special prizes from a variety of sponsors.