The National History Day (NHD) National Contest “is the culmination of the annual competition cycle and a celebration of student scholarship. After spending months on project research and preparation, and successfully competing at local and affiliate contests, student scholars are invited to share their work at the National Contest.” (NHD.org) Fifty-eight middle and high school students, from across New Mexico, will be joining nearly 3,000 students at the University of Maryland, College Park from June 9-13, 2024 for the NHD National Competition. Students will come from all over the country, and the world, with affiliates attending from countries such as China and Korea (NHD International). The excitement on campus that week will be palpable.

The contest will begin with a welcome ceremony to greet all the students and celebrate their accomplishments. Students will then compete over several days, with the contest ending with a parade of affiliates and awards ceremony. When students are not competing, they can explore our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., and immerse themselves in history. There are so many things to do in D.C., from museums to historical sites, students can start learning about new topics for next year’s theme while enjoying their time with family and peers. For some students, it is their first time leaving New Mexico, and/or their first time visiting our nation’s capital. This experience will be one they will never forget, and will help them better understand “who we are, who we were and who we aspire to be.”