National History Day in Missouri Student Award Winners Announced; teacher from Joplin nominated for National Award
Mo., April 30, 2025 – Just under 500 middle and high school students from across the state competed in the National History Day state contest April 26 on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. The annual program is sponsored and organized by the State Historical Society of Missouri.
First and second place winners will compete in the national contest June 8-12 at the University of Maryland, College Park. Students receiving third place in each category will be alternates. Special prizes were also awarded by the contest’s sponsors in various categories. The theme for this year’s contest is “Rights & Responsibilities in History.”
The students compete in five project categories, including documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, and website. Any public, private, or home school students who meet the grade and sponsor criteria can enter the annual contest. The contest is open to students in grades 6-12, who compete in the junior and senior levels. Thousands of Missouri students competed at the local and regional contests held earlier this year before attending the state contest.
Two National History Day in Missouri teachers have been nominated for the NHD Teacher of the Year Award for middle and high school teachers.
Missouri’s nominees are Heather Van Otterloo, Ph.D., of South Middle School in Joplin for the junior division and Megan Burian, Ph.D., of Marquette High School in St. Louis County for the senior division.
Two teachers will be chosen from all the nominees taking part in the national contest in June.
“Often we hear from our students that National History Day is a catalyst for their educational goals and building confidence,” said Danielle Griego, Ph.D., educational program coordinator at the State Historical Society of Missouri. “Throughout the school year, NHD students actively engage in historical research to create their projects and be ready to present and compete at various levels of the contest.
The 2025 state contest results are listed on the National History Day in Missouri website: NHDMO.org.
About National History Day in Missouri