National History Day in Missouri: Contests

Regional Contests

Regional contests are the first step in participating in the National History Day Program. Locate your region and contact your regional coordinator for contest details and deadlines.

List of Missouri Regional Contests and Regional Coordinators

State Contest

• The State Contest will be held in-person in Columbia, Missouri, on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. Please note that participants MUST be accompanied by an adult guardian or teacher throughout the event. 
• All participants must attend in person with their projects and will be interviewed by judges in the preliminary round.
• State Contest registration opens on TBA. 
• All participating students and their teachers must register and read all the homepage instructions at: mo.nhd.org. Only register once you have advanced from your regional contest. Ask your regional coordinator if you have advanced. Please use the same registration login credentials from your regional contest.
• See below for category submission information, special prizes, and student interviews. View contest day information section for “day of” details.

Student judge interview times will be posted here by TBA (once posted, times cannot be changed):

Category Submissions Guidelines (COMING SOON):
 

Special Prizes
Special prizes are sponsored awards by Missouri organizations throughout the state. Please read prize descriptions first and only apply if you meet the criteria. Read about the special prize options below. Applications for special prizes are now closed. 
 

Special Prize Descriptions (Coming Soon):

Special Prize Application: Will need to link/embed Jotform: https://www.nhdmo.org/special-prize-application.html 
 

Contest Day Information
Congratulations to all participants in the National History Day State Contest! We’re excited to welcome you to this year’s competition.

The Welcome Center and t-shirt pick-up will be located at the State Historical Society of Missouri (605 Elm Street). It will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You do not need to arrive right at 8:00 a.m., the Welcome Center will remain open until 2:00 p.m.

Please note that t-shirts will not be mailed. All participating NHD students must pick up their shirts by 2:00 p.m. T-shirts will be available only for students who selected a size during online registration or for individuals who purchased a shirt online. Please pick up only the number of shirts assigned to you.

Linked here is the Preliminary Schedule: TO BE LINKED CLOSER TO DATE
 

CATEGORY INSTRUCTIONS
All participating entries will be interviewed in the preliminary (AM) round.
 

• See Student Interviews for the interview schedule.
• Schedule times cannot be changed once added.
• Finalists for all categories will be posted in their respective judging buildings by 12:45 p.m.
• The final (PM) round begins at 1 p.m. Documentary and Performance students need to be present for the final round to show their film or perform. Exhibit students need to keep their projects and paperwork up for judges. Interviews will not be conducted in the final rounds.
• It is the student’s responsibility to bring their project and copies of their project paperwork for the judges. 
• Students are responsible for operating all their own equipment, as necessary. 
• Students must also arrive on time for interviews in the preliminary round and must show up to the final round (performance and documentary students) on time if they advance. 
• Students are allowed assistance carrying and placing heavy objects. Help with assembly of exhibits or props, on stage or in the halls, violates NHD rules.
   

Documentaries

• You will screen your film and complete your interview in Strickland Hall. 
• Classrooms are equipped with computers connected to projectors. Login information will be provided.
• Strongly recommended: Bring your own (or your school’s) laptop and a flash drive containing your video file as a backup. Do not rely solely on classroom Wi-Fi or technology.
• While audiences enjoy viewing films on the projector, as long as judges can clearly view your documentary, you are in good shape.
• Bring at least four (4) copies of your project paperwork for judges.
• Bring additional copies if you applied for special prizes judged on contest day.
   

Papers

• Interviews will take place in the Arts & Science Building.
• Bring at least four (4) copies of your paper (including title page, process paper, paper, and annotated bibliography) for judges.
• No interviews for final round.
   

Exhibits 

• All exhibits will be located in the MU Rec Center.
• Student exhibit set up takes place from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
• There is only ONE entrance for NHD students. Look for event signage on Rollins Street (across from the MU Student Center).
• All other Rec Center entrances are for members only.
• Bring at least four (4) copies of your project paperwork to display with your exhibit.
• Bring additional copies if you applied for special prizes judged on contest day.     
  
   

Websites 

• You will showcase your website and interview in Strickland Hall.
• Classrooms have computers connected to projectors; login information will be available.
• Strongly recommended: Bring a laptop or tablet as a backup.
   

Performances 

• Performances and interviews will take place in the Arts & Science Building.
• To ensure everyone can hear clearly, please do not stand in performance hallways unless you are next to perform.
• Remove all props at the end of the contest day.
• Bring at least four (4) copies of your project paperwork for judges.
• Bring additional copies if you applied for special prizes judged on contest day.

People are welcome to view documentaries, performances, papers, and websites during the preliminary rounds (AM). The exhibit hall is open to the public from 8:00-9:00 a.m. and from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in between judging rounds. Only judges should be in the exhibit hall from 9:00-9:30 a.m. during the judge walkthrough. The exhibit hall is closed to the public during student interviews from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Documentaries and performances are also open to public viewing in the final rounds (PM). If extra judges are in the room, special prize judging may be taking place. Please be kind, quiet, and respectful as students display their projects and interviews take place. 

Awards Ceremony 

• Location: Jesse Auditorium
• Time: 4:00 p.m.
• Doors open at 3:30 p.m.
• Enter the auditorium through the South Auditorium doors or the North stairwell doors.  Guests who need elevator access should use the South Basement entrance.

Evaluation Pickup

All State Contest evaluations (including judge feedback) must be picked up at the Awards Ceremony.

Students 

• Please know your entry number to retrieve your evaluation packet.
• Evaluations are organized by entry number only (not student name).

Teachers or Group Leaders 

• Use the linked document to bring a current printed list of students and their entry numbers: 
• Leave the list with staff at the evaluation pickup tables in the Jesse Auditorium lobby before the ceremony begins.
• Staff will sort evaluations during the ceremony.
• You may collect them after the ceremony ends.
   

Parking on Campus
Parking garages on Hitt, University, Virginia, Conley and Turner avenues are FREE on Saturdays. Cars may also park for free on campus lots except at residence halls—avoid restricted spaces, “placard parking,” and spaces marked for official cars. Large buses must park in lot RP10. It is best to drop participants off on campus and then park buses.  

Lodging Options
There are many great lodging options in Columbia, MO for you to choose from, but we do recommend you make your hotel reservations early, as Columbia hotels are busy in the spring! 

Food and Recreation
The Columbia Convention and Visitor's web page lists many dining options in Columbia.  In addition to local restaurants, there are two food courts on campus in the vicinity of the buildings where National History Day in Missouri judging takes place.

• MU Student Center (901 Rollins Rd, Columbia, MO) open at 9 am: Formerly Brady Commons, the Student Center is located across from the MU Rec Center, and just east of the Strickland Building and south of the Arts & Sciences Building. It includes several dining options and access to the University Bookstore. It can be entered from Rollins Street and Kuhlman Court. Please be aware that all of Mizzou's on-campus dining facilities are cashless. They accept Apply Pay, Google Pay, credit and debit cards.
• Memorial Union (518 Hitt St, Columbia, MO) open at 9 am: Memorial Union is the building with the large, Gothic-style tower just across Hitt Street from Ellis Library. It contains a Starbucks.

Emergency Situations
In case of severe weather such as a tornado, heavy flooding, or other emergencies, NHDMO will share a message with state contest participants. If no emergency message is sent out, assume that the contest will go on as planned.