The History Department will host this year's National History Day regional competition, an exhibition of high school and middle school students' historical research, on Friday, March 8, in the Hadley Union Building.
Close to 200 students from Indiana and five neighboring counties will display their research in historical papers, documentaries, websites, and performances. The exhibits will be judged by faculty and students in the History Department, IUP Libraries, and other departments. Winners of the daylong competition will compete at the state level in Mechanicsburg.
More than half a million students, encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide, will participate in the National History Day contest. Students chose historical topics related to the theme “Turning Points in History” and conducted research using primary and secondary sources.
Participating teachers and students were invited to visit campus last semester for a day of orientation and investigation. Students were guided through the process of the competition by faculty members and given the chance to conduct research with help from IUP librarians.
“The students worked with IUP librarians to try out their topics and begin their research using the libraries' extensive collections of historical and archival materials,” said librarian Theresa McDevitt. “During their library time, the students made contact with librarians who continued to assist students with projects even after they left campus.”
Librarians will also provide tours of the library's Special Collections and Archives and the University Museum's “In Sisterhood” exhibit to History Day visitors.
Students can also participate in an Acting Out History workshop sponsored by the Department of Theater and Dance as well as an ROTC historical reenactment.