NHD: Revolution, Reaction, and Reform

By Camille Huang

January 5, 2026

At the start of November 2025, Jericho Middle School students and staff kicked off the season of National History Day, creating a variety of compelling projects across a range of formats. 

National History Day is an annual competition where students across the country in grades 7-12 showcase their research through projects that revolve around an annual theme. This year's National History Day theme is “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform,” commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The range of formats includes papers, exhibits, websites, performances, and documentaries. Many students spend weeks constructing exhibits, revising their scripts, and refilming documentaries to try and make their ideal project. Winners of National History Day can win up to $1000 for their research. Even if students don’t make it to National History Day, their hard work still has the opportunity to reach audiences. In addition to National History Day, teachers are able to enter students into more competitions and can use the same project to participate in competitions such as the Lowell Milken Unsung Hero Competition or the New York State Archives. 

Here at Jericho, National History Day is a major event. According to JMS Librarian Ms. Conklin, “I think the culture of our school [appreciates] not just research in science but also research in social sciences. And teachers like Ms. Vevante (8th grade social studies) … and Ms. Cantwell (8th grade social studies) really took the lead in growing the program to make it this scale. Now, actually, it [is] also a special class in the high school, and now a lot of kids participate in high school as well. [It] is part of our Jericho culture.” 

Students participating in NHD learn many life skills, such as learning how to research and look for what is real and fake on the internet. Ms. Conklin states,“ I think it's really important … as a life skill for kids to know to research, to look up information, not to just Google things, but to get down to primary sources. [It is important to look for] a first-hand account of something and … not just one first-hand account, but [also] multiple opinions, multiple points of view on an issue.” National History Day also teaches students how to approach competition in a healthy way, organization, and perseverance. Every year, more and more 7th-12th graders compete with their research, not only educating themselves but also their peers. Many students participate in NHD for fun, while others use this experience to prepare for college. Winning National History Day not only looks well on a high school transcript, but can also show colleges what students are capable of.

National History Day is not only an educational experience for students of all ages but also opens many doors for students' futures. Ms. Conklin remembers the experience of a former JMS student:  “It really opened up his world…, and he didn't actually make it right away onto the [JHS National History Day] team. He didn't qualify, and he didn't take it as severely. He just kept persevering because he had learned, from an early age, that you just keep that way. And he persevered, made it for his genre, and won a good prize. Now, he's continuing his research at Stanford.” National History Day pushes students to their limits, helping them learn things they are interested in and helping them learn many life skills. Participating in NHD can kick off the start of new beginnings for many as it can boost confidence and help give students more experience in a competitive environment. Whether students choose to make an exhibit board, a performance, or another exciting project, National History Day can make a lasting positive impact.