2024 DAY of Contest information

NHDSD 2024 will be held at the San Diego County Office of Education located at 6401 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, 92111, Saturday March 2 from 8 am - 4 pm. 

Link to SDCOE Campus Map (pdf)

Link to Competition Day Program (forthcoming)

Exhibit and Poster Set-up
Friday, March 1 from 4-6 pm and Saturday, March 2 from 7:30-8:30 am at SDCOE. Exhibits and posters will be in rooms 401/402. Please check the SDCOE map for locations. We recommend that you set up on Friday if possible. Drop-off will be via a side entrance close to rooms 401/402, not through the main gate. Volunteers will direct you to the drop-off location.

March 2 Day of Competition
We recommend that students report 30 minutes before their scheduled interview so that we can stay on schedule. Participants need to check in at the registration table outside of the 300 building.  After locating the interview room, please wait outside until called in by the judges. If students self-nominated themselves for an EconEd award, they will have a separate interview for that award. Look for an email about that interview and be prepared to arrive early or to stay later for it.

Interview Information and Tips for Students

What to Wear:

Dress neatly and professionally. Some groups coordinate what they wear. Please do not wear anything that would indicate what school you are representing. There is no need to purchase anything new to wear to the competition. Something nice in your closet is just fine.

What to Bring:

• Posters and Exhibit: At least one copy of your written materials to keep with your project and 3 copies to give to the judges during your interview.

• Podcasts, Documentaries, and Performances: 3 copies of your written materials to give to the judges during your interview.

• Websites: You do not need to bring any printed materials.

• Breakfast, Snacks, and/or Lunch, and a Water Bottle: If you plan to stay at SDCOE to view projects, you may want to bring food and drink, since there will not be any available at the competition site.

What will the interview be like?

Posters, exhibits, and websites should wait outside of the judging room to be called in. 

• Introduce yourself and give the judges your written materials. Websites do not need to bring additional written materials; your project should already be loaded on computers in the room.

• The judges will ask you to take them through parts of your project and will ask you questions about the project. 

Documentaries & podcasts can either be in the room or wait outside of the room until called.

• Introduce yourself and give the judges your written materials.

• Your project should be loaded onto a computer in the room. You may do a sound check while the judges are reviewing your written materials.

• When the judges are ready, you should play your project. 

• When you are finished, the judges will ask you some questions about your project.

Performances can either be in the room or wait outside of the room until called.

• Introduce yourself and give the judges your written materials.

• You have 5 minutes to set up your props while the judges are reviewing your written materials.

• When the judges are ready, you should present your performance. 

• When you are finished, the judges will ask you some questions about your project.

• After the judges have finished their questions, you have 5 minutes to remove your props and scenery from the room.
  
  

The questions are meant to help the judges understand your project and process more fully. They are not intended to trick you. Do your best to answer the questions honestly. It is OK to say that you do not know the answer to a question or need more time to think about a question and cannot answer it yet.

How will I know if I have won?

A list of the students who are chosen for Special Awards and those chosen to compete in the California State Competition will be posted by 9 a.m. on Sunday morning at www.nhdsd.org. All winners on the list are invited to the Celebration of Learning on Sunday, March 3 from 3-5 pm at Dana Middle School, located at 1775 Chatsworth Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107 in OB/Point Loma.

Public Viewing of Projects

Posters and Exhibits can be viewed at lunchtime (12 to 1 pm) and after judging (2:30-3:00). Performance, Documentary, and Podcast rooms are open to an audience, so you may want to arrive early or stay later to be part of the audience. Please encourage members of your community to come and see this great celebration of history.

Exhibit and Poster Pick-up:
All exhibits and posters MUST be picked up on Saturday, March 2 between 3:00 and 4:00 pm.  NHD-SD and SDCOE will not be responsible for any projects left on site after that time.

Awards Ceremony
A list of the students who are chosen for Special Awards and those chosen to compete in the California State Competition will be posted by 9 a.m. on Sunday morning at www.nhdsd.org. All winners on the list are invited to the Celebration of Learning on Sunday, March 3 from 3-4:30 pm at Dana Middle School, located at 1775 Chatsworth Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107 in OB/Point Loma.