Motivation

Staying motivated to put in the extra hour of work each night even when you are tired can be a major struggle. However, your efforts will not go to waste in the long run. If you make it up to the National Competition, there is a lot to look forward to!

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Monetary Prizes (yes as in money)

Depending on your placement or whether or not you get a special prize, you may receive some amount of money. Although this shouldn't be your primary goal in the competition, it can serve as some motivation when you decide to work on your NHD project instead of going on your phone.

Pin Collection

At the National History Day Competition, students from all over the country (and world) gather at the University of Maryland College Park. To facilitate interaction between all participants and help everyone to get to know each other, each student brings pins with their unique state/country design to be traded. This process is SO much fun and you will end up with pins varying from American Samoa to Wisconsin!

Exploring DC

The Competition at the National level is a week-long event ending with the awards ceremony in the Xfinity Center at UMD. During the week, there is ample opportunity to explore Washington DC by visiting world renowned institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, African American Museum, and the Library of Congress.

The overall learning experience

NHD is such an unique opportunity to

hone and develop key skills for your future education and career. Whether it is the stress of presenting in front of judges or the joy of hearing your name called for advancing in the competition, NHD is a lot more than just another school project to check off the list.

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Even though I have listed only a few of the highlights, there is so much more to the competition! I suppose the best way to understand the numerous benefits is to experience it for yourself! On that note, get to work!