About NHD in PA @ Messiah

Messiah Universtiy hosts Regions 8 & 9 contests for National History Day in PA.  Each year, hundreds of middle and high school students from south-central PA (Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, and Perry counties) participate in our regional competition. Students present their historical research by producing documentaries, exhibits, dramatic performances, websites, or papers on a variety of topics based on a theme.  The finalists in each category from our region move onto the state finals held each year in May. Finalists at the state level represent Pennsylvania at the national contest held at the University of Maryland, College Park, in June.

National History Day is a year-long academic program focused on historical research, interpretation and creative expression for 6th- to 12th-grade students. By participating in NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history. The experience culminates in a series of contests at the local and affiliate levels and an annual national competition in the nation's capitol in June.

An independent study from 2011 found that participation in the National History Day Contest benefits students far beyond the competition. National History Day not only transports classrooms back in time during the school year, it transforms young minds forever.

For more information on our regional contest here at Messiah University, contact Cathay Snyder, csnyder@messiah.edu

For more information on the NHD program, visit the National History Day website: https://www.nhd.org/

For more information on NHD in PA, visit NHD in PA

Program Schedule: 

Schedule of Activities:

If parents, guests, students, are looking for something to do before or after their interviews, they can certainly view the Documentary Film Festival, check out the library and Café Diem, visit the Oakes Museum (opening at 10 am and free to NHD guests) or view the performances. See the Schedule of Activities: History Day 2024 Schedule of Events.pdf

Judging Times & Locations: History Day Program 2024.pdf

Campus Map: campus map.pdf

Directions to campus: 

Southbound on U.S. Route 15
Travel approximately 3.5 miles beyond the PA Turnpike interchange and take the Lisburn Road exit. At the light at the bottom of the ramp, turn left onto Lisburn Road. Follow Lisburn Road through the next traffic light and up to the stop sign at the top of the hill. Continue straight on Lisburn Road and take the first exit of the roundabout onto Grantham Road at the bottom of the hill. Follow Grantham Road straight ahead to the stop sign at the main entrance to the University.

Northbound on U.S. Route 15
Travel approximately 4 miles beyond the PA 74 North intersection near Dillsburg to the Lisburn Road exit. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto Lisburn Road. Follow Lisburn Road to the stop sign at the top of the hill. Continue straight on Lisburn Road and take the first exit of the roundabout onto Grantham Road at the bottom of the hill. Follow Grantham Road straight ahead to the stop sign at the main entrance to the University.

Exhibits: Brubaker Auditorium in the Eisenhower Center is the site for the exhibits. Students should plan to arrive between 8:15 and 8:30 am to set‑up their exhibits. Students may have their drivers pull around the circle in front of the Eisenhower Campus Center to drop off their exhibits. ALL exhibits must be set up and ready to go before the start of the contest (9 am), regardless of student interview times. Individual and Group exhibit tables will be marked as Individual or Group as well as their Entry # corresponds to their table assignment—please have students look for their entry number to set up their project in the proper location. Students should report to their exhibit at their assigned time and depart at the end of their judging session. Students are not needed to be present if their exhibit moves onto the final round.

As in the past, when judging begins at 9 am and until approximately Noon when it is completed, only judges and the students being judged will be allowed on the Exhibit floors. Please understand that the nature of the Exhibit Hall does not allow for separation of spectators from the judging process as can be accomplished in the other categories. There is a viewing area that can be accessed from the second floor of Brubaker that can be used to watch the contest. Public viewing of the exhibits will be from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Exhibits may be taken down after 2:30.

Documentaries, Papers, Performances, Websites: Judging for these categories will take place in Boyer Hall. Students should plan to arrive 30 minutes before their judging time in order to find the location and be prepared to begin at their assigned time. To drop off props for performances, you can do so behind Boyer Hall which can be reached by taking Creekside Drive to Crestline Drive and use the loop and the steps to access Boyer from the back or if they arrive early enough and there is parking available in the visitor lots below Boyer, they can carry their props up from there.  

NHD in PA Spectator & Judging Policy: Spectator & Judging Policy.pdf

The Awards Ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. in Parmer Hall (located in the Calvin & Janet High Center), and should be completed by approximately 3:30 pm. We should have plenty of seating for all in attendance. Also, please, no food or beverages are allowed in Parmer Hall.

The coffee shop, Café Diem, located in the campus library will open at 8 am on Saturday morning, especially for our contest. Lunch will be available for purchase by student participants, parents, and others at Lottie Nelson Dining Hall, or Falcon Express, which are both located in the Eisenhower Campus Center. Or students can also bring their own lunch. Local restaurants in Dillsburg (just a few miles south on Route 15) include McDonald’s, Arby’s, Subway, Baker’s Restaurant, Al’s Pizza and Subs. A few miles north on Route 15, is a Cracker Barrel, Wendy’s, Arby’s, Vito’s Pizza, Starbucks, and Subway (all off the Cumberland Parkway exit).

Setup Needed...

Judge Criteria