Mississippi History Day

Grades

Junior Division (grades 6-8) and Senior Division (grades 9-12)

Age

No specific age requirement stated; based on grade levels

Citizenship

Must be a Mississippi student to participate

Prerequisites

No specific academic prerequisites; students can have any teacher/sponsor from any discipline

Steps

1. Form a team or work individually (up to 5 members per project, except papers)
2. Choose one of five project categories (Paper, Website, Performance, Exhibit, or Documentary)
3. Research using primary and secondary sources
4. Create project following category-specific guidelines
5. Register for regional competition (Northern or Southern region)
6. Present at regional competition in early spring (February 21, 2026 for 2026 competition)
7. First and second place regional winners advance to state competition
8. State competition held in April (April 10, 2026 for 2026 competition)
9. First and second place state winners in each category advance to National History Day Contest

Materials Needed

• Primary sources (documents, photographs, letters, artifacts, oral histories)
• Secondary sources (books, articles, scholarly databases)
• Category-specific materials (video equipment for documentaries, display boards for exhibits, performance scripts, website hosting, etc.)
• Documentation of research process
• Process paper explaining research and project development

Timeline

Start early (6+ months recommended for thorough research); Regional competitions held February 21, 2026; State competition April 10, 2026; National competition June 14-18, 2026 at University of Maryland, College Park

Cost

No application cost mentioned; may have regional/state registration fees (not specified)

What Judges Look For

• Quality and depth of historical research using primary AND secondary sources
• Clear and compelling historical argument/thesis
• Proper documentation of sources
• Relevance to annual theme (2026: 'Revolution, Reaction, Reform')
• Originality and creativity in presentation
• Historical accuracy and interpretation
• Effective use of evidence to support argument
• Category-specific technical quality (production quality for documentaries, visual appeal for exhibits, etc.)
• Student understanding of topic (important for performances)
• Overall presentation and communication of ideas

Scoring

Official NHD Judging Evaluation Forms available for each category (Paper, Website, Performance, Exhibit, Documentary) on MDAH website. Forms assess historical thinking, research, interpretation, and category-specific criteria

Common Mistakes

• Relying too heavily on secondary sources without sufficient primary sources
• Weak historical argument or unclear thesis
• Poor documentation of sources
• Off-topic or tangentially related projects
• Insufficient research depth
• Technical/production quality issues (for multimedia categories)
• Unclear presentation or communication of historical analysis
• Ignoring category-specific rules and guidelines
• Lack of student understanding when presenting (especially performances)

Acceptance Rate

Not publicly disclosed; varies by category and region. Regional winners advance to state; only 1st and 2nd place in each category at state level advance to nationals

Applicants

Specific number not disclosed, but National History Day involves thousands of students nationwide across all 50 states and DC

Winners / Selected

At Mississippi state level: 1st and 2nd place in each of 5 categories across 2 divisions (Junior and Senior) = up to 20 winners total advancing to nationals. Nationally: 50-100 projects compete (roughly 250-400 students) at national contest

• Start research early—aim for 6+ months of preparation to allow thorough source investigation
• Balance primary and secondary sources heavily weighted toward primary sources; MDAH emphasizes 'solid foundation of primary sources with supporting secondary sources'
• Choose a niche, specific topic within the annual theme rather than something too broad
• Use Mississippi-focused topics when possible (state has dedicated archive resources and special award category)
• Connect to one of the special award categories (African American history, military history, Mississippi history, women's history) for additional recognition and monetary prizes
• Consult the official NHD Rule Book and Category Checklists to understand all requirements before starting
• Visit official evaluation forms for your category to understand exactly what judges assess
• Study past award-winning examples provided on MDAH website to understand excellence level
• Take advantage of MDAH's extensive curated resource lists organized by topic and region
• Have a sponsor/teacher review project early and often for feedback
• Ensure all sources are properly cited according to NHD guidelines
• For performances: practice extensively; judges assess student understanding during Q&A
• For documentaries: prioritize production quality and historical pacing
• For exhibits: make visually compelling while maintaining academic rigor
• For websites: ensure navigation is intuitive and content is well-organized
• For papers: maintain clear argumentative structure; avoid purely narrative approach

How to Prepare

• Review current year's theme and brainstorm potential topics (2026: 'Revolution, Reaction, Reform')
• Study past winning projects from Mississippi and nationally to understand excellence standards
• Visit recommended archive and library websites to familiarize yourself with available resources
• Identify a sponsor (teacher, advisor, family member) who can provide guidance
• Select project category that aligns with your strengths
• Develop a research plan with specific primary and secondary source targets
• Conduct preliminary research to confirm topic viability and source availability
• Create timeline working backward from regional competition deadline (February 2026)
• Gather sources systematically; take detailed notes on all sources
• Write thesis/central argument early; refine throughout research process
• Draft project content well before deadline for multiple revision cycles
• Review official judging rubrics and ensure project meets all criteria
• Have sponsor and peers provide constructive feedback
• Polish presentation/production quality (especially for multimedia categories)
• Prepare presentation/performance skills and Q&A responses

Resources

• MDAH Official Website: https://www.mdah.ms.gov/mississippi-history-day
• Updated NHD Rule Book (official guidelines for all categories)
• NHD Judging Evaluation Forms (Paper, Website, Performance, Exhibit, Documentary)
• NHD Category Checklists
• Mississippi Sample Topics List
• Guide to Student Research and Historical Argumentation
• Past NHD Webinars
• NHD Professional Development resources
• Mississippi-specific archives: MDAH Digital Archives, University of Mississippi Digital Collections, Mississippi State University Digital Collections, University of Southern Mississippi Digital Collections, Delta State University Archives, Jackson State University Library, and others
• National source databases: Library of Congress, National Archives, Smithsonian Institution, PBS, C-SPAN Video Library
• Contact: Bently Cochran (Mississippi History Day Coordinator) at 601-576-6997 or bcochran@mdah.ms.gov
• Winning project examples available on MDAH website

Time Needed

Minimum 4-5 months with focused effort; optimal preparation 6-9 months. Initial topic selection and source scouting: 2-3 weeks; research: 8-12 weeks; project creation: 6-8 weeks; refinement and practice: 4-6 weeks

Successful Mississippi History Day participants typically: conduct extensive original research using diverse primary sources (archives, museums, libraries, digital collections); develop clear, defensible historical arguments; focus on topics with strong regional or thematic relevance; work collaboratively (though solo entries also succeed); demonstrate deep understanding through polished presentations; often excel in school academics and have strong writing/communication skills; may have family or school connections to history/research; winners often specialize in Mississippi history, African American history, military history, or women's history. Nationally competitive projects show sophisticated historical interpretation and professional-quality presentation

National History Day participation is highly valued by college admissions officers as evidence of: rigorous independent research skills, intellectual curiosity, sustained commitment to long-term projects, cross-curricular excellence, public presentation/communication skills, and ability to synthesize complex historical information. State or national competition advancement demonstrates exceptional achievement. This is particularly valuable for students interested in history, political science, journalism, law, public policy, and liberal arts. National finals appearance or significant awards strengthen college essays and demonstrate serious intellectual pursuits. Top-tier universities recognize NHD as a significant academic achievement. Not as prestigious as Science Olympiad or STEM competitions nationally, but well-respected in humanities and valued by selective colleges seeking well-rounded applicants with research depth

• Illinois History Day — Tier 3, competition
• Texas History Day — Tier 3, competition
• National History Day (NHD) in DC — Tier 3, competition
• National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) — Tier 3, competition
• Miniversity Singapore Debate Olympiad — Tier 3, olympiad