Download a copy of the current NHD Rule Book here.
N.C. History Day's Southwest Piedmont Region
National History Day is a yearlong academic program that engages students grades 6th - 12th in the hands-on discovery of history. N.C. History Day is an affiliate of the National History Day program.
NHD students choose historical topics related to an annual theme; conduct extensive primary and secondary research; analyze and interpret their sources; draw conclusions about their topics’ significance in history; and present their work in one of five categories: historical papers, websites, exhibits, performances, or documentaries. These projects then go through a series of competitions, culminating in the national contest held each June. Students are encouraged to improve their projects at each stage of the competition to inspire continuous research and learning.
North Carolina is divided into eight NHD regions including the SW Piedmont Region. The SW Piedmont is managed and hosted by UNC Charlotte Office of School and Community Partnerships (OSCP) and the Department of History. The SW Piedmont Region is comprised of the following counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Stanly, and Union.
To find the NHD regions for other N.C. counties, please visit the N.C. History Day website.
North Carolina students must compete at their regional contest before qualifying to attend the state level contest held later in the spring. The top two entries in each category at the state level contest qualify to attend the national contest in June.
N.C. History Day is administered by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The N.C. program is made possible by the generous sponsorship support from the North Caroliniana Society and the Federation of N.C. Historical Societies.
Contest Location: UNC Charlotte - Cone University Center
9025 Univeristy Rd
Charlotte, NC 28223
Contest Registration Fee: UNCC will waive registration fees for this regional contest.
Parking: School buses should drop off students in front of the Cone Center, and students should proceed up the stairs to the lobby in front of McKnight Auditorium. Buses should then park in Lot 5. If participants are arriving in individual cars, they should park in the Cone Visitor Deck (for a small parking fee). Please see this parking map. Cone is #5 on the map and Cone Decks are in green to the left.
Tentative Contest Schedule
This schedule may change based on final registration numbers.
- 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. - Student Check-in and Exhibit Set-up - Check-in is at Cone University Center just outside McKnight Auditorium.
- 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Welcome Ceremony - McKnight Auditorium
- 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Judging (Detailed judge schedule for each entry will be sent out just prior to contest.)
- 2:30 p.m. - Awards Ceremony - McKnight Auditorum
Lunch: Students can eat lunch anytime that their judging schedule allows. Various lunch options are available for participants on campus. In the Cone Center there is a Panda Express and Subway. Those who wish to venture out can head over to the Prospector, where there is a Salsaritas, Burger 704, and Mamma Leones. At the nearby Student Union, there is a Wendy's, Shake Smart, and a dining hall. Please note that most campus eateries now require digital payment via a credit card. Most places do not accept cash and have kiosk ordering only.
Group Documentary
One group member needs to upload a single PDF of your group's written materials (title page, process paper, and annotated bibliography) and insert the shareable link to your .MP4 file of your FINAL Documentary on a Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox by the registration deadline. Your group will need to plan to bring 2 printed copies of your written materials to the contest.
Group Exhibit
One group member needs to upload a single PDF of your project's written materials (title page, process paper, annotated bibliography) by the registration deadline. Your group will need to plan to bring your exhibit and 2 paper copies of your written materials to the contest with you. No link is needed to be provided for this category.
Group Performance
One group member needs to upload a single PDF of your group's written materials (title page, process paper, annotated bibliography) by the registration deadline. Your group will need to plan to perform your project live and bring 2 paper copies of your written materials and any costumes or props to the contest with you. No link is needed to be provided for this category.
Group Website
Type in your NHDWebCentral Site Key by the registration deadline. This is the 8-digit code that is in your website’s URL. It can also be found by logging into your NHDWebCentral account. Your website will freeze at midnight following the registration deadline.
Individual Documentary
Upload a single PDF of your written materials (title page, process paper, and annotated bibliography) and insert the shareable link to your .MP4 file of your FINAL Documentary on a Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox by the registration deadline. You will need to plan to bring 2 printed copies of your written materials to the contest.
Individual Exhibit
Upload a single PDF of your project's written materials (title page, process paper, annotated bibliography) by the registration deadline. You will need to plan to bring your exhibit and 2 paper copies of your written materials to the contest with you. No link is needed to be provided for this category.
Individual Performance
Upload a single PDF of your written materials (title page, process paper, annotated bibliography) by the registration deadline. You will need to plan to perform your project live and bring 2 paper copies of your written materials and any costumes or props to the contest with you. No link is needed to be provided for this category.
Individual Website
Type in your NHDWebCentral Site Key by the registration deadline. This is the 8-digit code that is in your website’s URL. It can also be found by logging into your NHDWebCentral account. Your website will freeze at midnight following the registration deadline.
Paper
Upload a single PDF of your Paper (title page, process paper, your final paper, and annotated bibliography) by the registration deadline. You may want to plan to bring 1 print copy of your paper with you to the contest so that you can reference it if needed during your judge interview. No link is needed to be provided for this category.
Judging Criteria
Judges will use NHD Evaluation Forms to evaluate each entry. The evaluation form has two sections: Historical Quality (80%) and Clarity of Presentation (20%). The evaluation of Historical Quality is the same for all categories. This section focuses on the strengths of each project's historical argument, research, and relationship to the theme. Clarity of Presentation is different for each entry category. It evaluates how well a project communicates its argument using the tools of the particular category. Learn more on the judging process by watching this video: