National History Day events scheduled this week

February 5, 2018

Marmian Grimes

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Office of Public History is hosting National History Day events Feb. 5-9 in the Civic Center at Pioneer Park.

National History Day is a nationwide annual event focused on the study and knowledge of people and events that have shaped the modern world. This year an estimated 600,000 students and 30,000 teachers will participate in local and state fairs across the country. Top entrants in the local and state fairs are eligible to compete in the national contest in June 2018 at the University of Maryland in College Park.

During the past 20 years, more than 10,000 local students have participated in National History Day at UAF. This year, nearly 500 students from the Fairbanks area will be involved. Participants write traditional research papers, create exhibits, stage original historical performances or produce video documentaries, all centered on a yearly theme. This year’s theme is “Conflict and Compromise in History.”

Students and teachers set up their exhibits on Monday, Feb. 5. Exhibits will be open to the public for viewing on Feb. 6-8 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The awards ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, with students present for interviews and to explain their projects. Special prizes from Kids Voting North Alaska and Tanana Valley Historical Society are provided.

CONTACT: Marmian Grimes, 907-474-7902, mlgrimes@alaska.edu.