In just a few short weeks, sixty-eight middle and high school students from around South Carolina will represent the Palmetto State at the 2016 National History Day Contest in College Park, Maryland. They have been working on their research and project presentations since September 2015. Many of these students have more than 300 hours in their websites, papers, documentaries, exhibits and performances.
More than 5,000 elementary, middle and high school students start the program in South Carolina each year. Based on the annual theme, students create a research project and provide analysis and insight to their topic’s significance in history. Students then participate in a series of contests at the school, regional and state level to qualify for the national contest.
The NHD program engages students to develop their research and presentation skills while also promoting positive life skill sets that students will benefit from for many years. The NHD program fosters and builds characteristics and skills listed in the South Carolina High School Graduate Profile.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our delegation this year,” said SC History Day Program Manager, Mary Katherine Marshall. “Our students have turned out quality projects and more importantly they have a bright and fun attitude about the program and their projects. They have embraced the program at its core values.”
The National History Day contest will take place June 12 – 16, 2016 in College Park, Maryland and will include students from around the country, including the South Carolina delegation.
The South Carolina History Day Program has recently found a new home for a bright future ahead at Coastal Carolina University’s Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. This was made possible through the program’s long-standing relationship with South Carolina Humanities. Executive Director, Randy Akers, suggested the new relationship and it was formalized in March of this year.
“It offers South Carolina History Day students a unique opportunity to take advantage of Coastal Carolina’s resources and we hope to offer more visibility for the university as we work with many of the middle and high schools around the state,” said Marshall. “It has been an extremely positive experience for our students so far!”
The South Carolina History Day Program is supported through the generosity and support of our sponsors including SC Humanities, Coastal Carolina University, BlueCross BlueShield South Carolina and countless private donors and program partners.
For more information about the South Carolina History Day Program, please contact Mary Katherine Marshall 803-764-5007 or scstatehistoryday@gmail.com
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 22-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.
Image: The second and third place winners for the Senior Individual Performance category clap for their friend and classmate as he is called up to the stage to take the first place medal. Image courtesy of Breanna Bradham and South Carolina History Day.
