As of 2023, Montana State University-Bozeman is the new institutional sponsor for National History Day in Montana (NHD MT) which is an affiliate of the National History Day© (NHD) nonprofit education organization headquartered at College Park, Maryland. For curricular resources, contest details, and to sign up for professional development or to volunteer, visit the official NHD MT website.
NHD MT is active for the 2024-2025 school year. Join us!
National History Day is a co-curricular academic program for students in grades 6-12 that aligns with social studies and ELA standards. Through NHD, youth engage in rigorous historical research, so that they are better able to inform the present and shape the future. NHD inspires students through competitions, and transforms teaching through project-based curriculum and instruction.
NHD's main program is a social studies competition where students 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.
The 2025 contest theme is Rights and Responsibilities. The State Contest will be on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the MSU-Bozeman campus. Coordinators are Dr. Hailey Hancock an assistant teaching professor in MSU's Education Department, and Dr. Melissa Hibbard, an interpretive historian with the Montana Historical Society. For more information on NHD MT visit our official website.
Become an Academic or Cultural Partner
Our goals with NHD MT include advocating for meaningful social studies education, creating partnerships with other social studies and humanities organizations, and to support both educators and students engaging in historical inquiry. As we develop the NHD MT program we are building a group of Academic and Cultural Partners. Please reach out if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity nationalhistorydaymt@gmail.com
Several organizations have been instrumental in revitalizing the NHD MT program. We are thankful for their support and encourage you to visit their websites to learn more about their social studies outreach or to contact the leaders directly:
- Humanities Montana: Programs Manager, John Knight, john.knight@humanitiesmontana.
org - Montana Historical Society and subscribe to the weekly newsletters from MHS: Outreach and Interpretation, Program Manager, Martha Kohl, mkohl@mt.gov
- The Montana Council for the Social Studies: President, Alex Rosenleaf, arosenleaf@gmail.com
Are you interested in supporting the NHD MT program financially?
We are seeking out both grants and donations to establish a strong foundation for NHD MT. Funds are budgeted for operational costs, educational outreach, the regional and state competitions, professional development, and travel grants that support schools in participating. We truly believe that NHD MT should be a "social studies and literacy program for ALL" Montana students!
You can make a tax-deductible gift to National History Day in Montana through MSU's Alumni Foundation.
Please go to the MSUAF Gifts webpage that is specifically for National History Day in Montana (NHD MT) or you can send a check to this address: P.O. Box 172750, Bozeman, MT 59717. In the memo please write NHD MT c/o College of EHHD. If you do not hear from the MSUAF within the month please reach out directly to Dr. Hancock at haileyhancock@montana.edu
Thank you in advance for supporting National History Day in Montana!