Connecticut Students Compete for Prizes in the 2021 Connecticut History Day State Contest

Connecticut Students Compete for Prizes in the 2021 Connecticut History Day State Contest
Students compete to advance to the National History Day Contest next month

Hartford, Conn. – The annual Connecticut History Day Contest culminates this weekend with the 2021 State Contest on Saturday, May 1. 356 students from 56 schools across the state are competing in this weekend’s contest after advancing from one of six regional contests. They have created projects on a historical topic of their choice based on the annual theme of Communication in History: The Key to Understanding.

Connecticut History Day (CHD) is the year-long academic program for middle and high-school students that includes a series of regional contests leading up to a state contest and the opportunity to advance to the national contest in June, where students compete to win prestigious prizes, including college scholarships. The program is one of 58 affiliates of National History Day.

Along with the help of dedicated teachers, students conducted research and turned their findings into documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, or websites to share what they’ve learned.

111 volunteer judges have evaluated the projects and will determine which students’ projects will advance to the National H

istory Day Contest.

The CHD State Contest is also an opportunity for students to win a series of Special Prizes sponsored by state and local organ

izations such as the Connecticut League of History Organizations, The Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity and Transnational Migration at Yale, The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, The Washington Library at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and many more.

In addition to the excitement of the judging, CHD has organized a day of enrichment activities for students with professionals and history experts from across Connecticut.

“This is more than just your average online event,” said Rebecca Taber-Conover, Head of Public Programs and Connecticut History Day at The Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut’s Old State House. “This year we worked with our colleagues in the heritage community to create some really engaging experiences for our students.”

Student projects and special content available to the public will be available beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday on the Connecticut History Day website.

Results will be announced during a special virtual Awards Ceremony at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 3 live from the CHD Facebook page and YouTube channel as well as the website.

Connecticut History Day is coordinated by The Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut’s Old State House. An affiliate program of National History Day, CHD promotes the study of history in schools – including public, private, and home schools – to create a higher degree of appreciation for the value of historical thought in students, educators, and community members who participate. CHD creates college and career-ready citizens of the future by engaging students in rigorous, inquiry-based academic research projects.

CHD conforms to the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies Connecticut State Standards and Connecticut’s new Social Studies Frameworks.

CHD is presented with major funding and partnership support from CT Humanities. Program support is given by the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area and the New Haven Museum. Follow Connecticut History Day on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and visit the program’s website at histordayct.org.

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