NHD in PA 2026 State Competition
Over 700 students from across Pennsylvania attended the NHD in PA 2026 State Competition at the University of Scranton! 61 Philadelphia students represented their city with their incredible projects on Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History. We are so incredibly proud of every student who competed; they truly encapsulated Philly’s spirit and tenacity!
The following students qualified for the National Contest at the University of Maryland in June by earning First or Second Place:
Junior Group Documentary, 2nd Place: “The King’s Great Matter: The Tudor Revolution,” by Kiara G. and Kenadi W. (Roosevelt Elementary School, Teacher Joshua Vargha)
Junior Group Performance, 2nd Place: “After the Revolution: How President Washington’s Reaction to Foreign Influence, Political Division and the Threat of Rebellion Secured the Future of a Young Nation,” by Connor M. and Alex J. (St. Mary Interparochial School, Teacher Millie Camissa)
Junior Group Website, 2nd Place: “‘I Want My MTV!’ The Audiovisual Revolution,” by Benjamin Z. and Gavin R. (St. Mary Interparochial School, Teacher Millie Camissa)
Senior Group Documentary, 2nd Place: “From ‘Miniature Adults’ to Pediatric Patients: How the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Revolutionized and Reformed American Pediatric Healthcare,” by Eoin D., Corrine X., and Owen K. (Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, Teacher Liz Taylor)
Senior Group Performance, 2nd Place: “Revolutionary News,” by Luke S. and Ezra A. (William Penn Charter School, Teacher Maria Adamson)
Senior Group Performance, 1st Place: “One Voice, One America: How Marian Anderson’s Lincoln Memorial Performance Set a Precedent for Reform,” by Nyahme J., Sophia P., Eliana K., Olivia K., and Leila G. (Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, Teacher Liz Taylor)
Senior Individual Documentary, 1st Place: “More than a Maid: The Complex Legacy of Hattie McDaniel,” by Madelyn Y. (Central High School, Teacher Lisa Sheldon-Matje)
Be sure to check out the full results from the State Competition here!
NHD Philly 2026 City Competition
Over 200 students from across Philadelphia were at the National Constitution Center on March 12th for the NHD Philly 2026 city-wide competition! Students showcased their projects on this year’s theme, Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History. From performances to papers, Philadelphia students engaged with history in their own voices and did truly incredible work. We are very proud of every student who participated!
We were also delighted to be able to showcase the students’ incredible accomplishments on the local news! Check out the coverage on CBS3 and 6ABC!
Photos by James Izlar
JUNIOR DIVISION
Group Documentary
- First Place: “Drawing a New World: The Japanese Animation Revolution,” by Quinn G. and Symirah G.
- Second Place: “The King’s Great Matter: The Tudor Revolution,” by Kiara G. and Kenadi W.
Group Performance
- First Place: “After the Revolution: How President Washington’s Reaction to Foreign Influence, Political Division, and the Threat of Rebellion Secured the Future of a Young Nation,” by Alexander J. and Connor M.
Group Website
- First Place: “The Audiovisual Revolution: How MTV Reformed the Way We Experience Music,” by Benjamin Z. and Gavin R.
Individual Exhibit
- First Place: “Reevaluation, Reaction, and Reform in the Artwork of Faith Ringgold,” by Hannah W.
- Second Place: “The Impact of the Haitian Revolution on the Black Community in Philadelphia,” by Joshua M.
- Third Place: “The Gatekeeper State: A History of the Chinese Exclusion Act,” by Eowyn D.
Group Exhibit
- First Place: “Pop Warner and the Carlisle Indian School: A Revolution in Football,” by Maxwell D., Dylan P., and Luca S.
- Second Place: “After the Unsinkable Ship Sank: The Titanic and Historical Ripple Effects,” by Taylor K., Nyasia M., and Iailynn R.
- Third Place: “Philadelphia Women in the Women’s Suffrage Movement,” by Azizah S. and Indigo R.
- Honorable Mention: “Judaism Before and After WWII,” by Liliana S. and Sydney W.
SENIOR DIVISION
Individual Documentary
- First Place: “More than a Maid: The Complex Legacy of Hattie McDaniel,” by Madelyn Y.
- Second Place: “The Jungle: Revolution for Food,” by Tianna C.
- Third Place: “Reconstruction Amendments: Reaction to Racism,” by Makah M.
- Honorable Mention: “Black Codes: Reaction to Abolition of Slavery,” Azeriah S.
Group Documentary
- First Place: “Strange Fruit: Grown in Protest,” by Sophia K., Callum F., Sara S. and Chloe Wang.
- Second Place: “How Influenza Revolutionized the Medical World,” by Emily K. Catie R., Katie F., Samantha C. and Adrian R.
- Third Place: “From “Miniature Adults” to Pediatric Patients: How the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Revolutionized and Reformed American Pediatric Healthcare,” by Eoin D., Owen K., and Corrine X.
- Honorable Mention: “A Colonized Soul: A Puerto Rican’s Journey For Identity,” by Justin N. and Anika K.
Individual Performance
- First Place: “All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave”: How the Combahee River Collective Revolutionized Black Feminism, by Halimah F.
- Second Place: “From Profit to Protection: Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in the Industrial Age,” by Eila S.
Group Performance
- First Place: “One Voice, One America: How Marian Anderson’s Lincoln Memorial Performance Set a Precedent for Reform,” by Leila G., Sophia P., N’Yahme J., Olivia K., and Eliana K.
- Second Place: “From Madness to Moral Treatment: How the Founding of the Friends Hospital Reformed Psychiatric Care,” by Jessica J., Amaliya K., and Taylor S.
- Third Place: “Revolutionary News,” by Luke S. and Ezra A.
- Honorable Mention: “The History and Impact of the Divine Nine on the Black Community,” Asiam H. and Logan S.
Individual Website
- First Place: “The Barbary War: America’s War on Terror (1801 – 1805),” by Bibars S.
- Second Place: “The Kindertransport: How Kristallnacht Inspired Britain’s Immigration Policies,” by Agatha T.
- Third Place: “From Reform to Red Revolution: The Bolsheviks Rise to Power in 1917 Russia,” by Nico A.
- Honorable Mention: “The 8 Year Study,” by Jessica L.
Group Website
- First Place: “Dawn of the Iron Age: How the USS Monitor Revolutionized Naval Warfare at the Battle of Hampton Roads,” by Clarity K. and Jana L.
- Second Place: “Virginia Alexander: American Pioneer of Racial Justice and Public Health,” by Haley L. and Tania W.
- Third Place: “Revolutions of Chinese Americans,” by Anne C., Akemi L., Winnie K., and Amy W.
- Honorable Mention: “The Southeast Asian Influence: A Grand Contribution to Modern American Medicine,” by Kayla M., Andie V., and Jocelyn X.
Paper
- First Place: “Rewriting Responsibility: The Great Depression and the Social Security Act,” by Eason W.
- Second Place: “National Security and Human Rights: The Paiva Family, Brazil’s Dictatorship, and the Cold War Connection to the United States,” by Miquel B.
- Third Place: “A ‘Generation on Trial’: The Chicago Seven and the Student Activism Revolution,” by Harry R.
- Honorable Mention: “Revolutionary Ownership: Tulsa’s Resistance to White Supremacy Through Black Wall Street,” by Kayla W.
Individual Exhibit
- First Place: “My Life Started There”: The Revolutionary Development of the Civilian Conservation Corps,” by Grace O.
- Second Place: “We Didn’t Have Nothing to Lose”: How the Sonderkommando Revolt Defined Resistance in Reaction to the Atrocities of the Holocaust,” by Mason S.
- Third Place: “Collateral Damage: The Crack Epidemic’s Toll on Families and the Road to Recovery,” by Treasure J.
- Honorable Mention: “Contradictory by Design: Robert Venturi and the Dawn of Post-Modern Architecture,” by Charlotte O.
Group Exhibit
- First Place: “Willowbrook: Reform in Mental Health,” by Sheika R. and Mikayla C.
- Second Place: “The Wright Way to Fly: How the Wright Brothers Revolutionized Military Aviation,” by Yuhan W. and Sophia Z.
- Third Place: “Japanese Internment Camps: Reaction to Pearl Harbor,” by Khyir O., Emmanuel W., and Rosario M.
- Honorable Mention: “Black Athletes: Revolution for Protest in Sports,” by Ibrahim M., Syaire D., and Darius D.
2026 Special Prizes
The NHD Philly 2026 also featured two Special Prizes! The Women’s History Award, sponsored by the Lily Foundation, recognized one Senior Division project and one Junior Division project that showcased thoughtful analysis on the myriad of ways women have contributed to history. These projects highlighted often underrepresented narratives and uplifted those voices.
JUNIOR DIVISION ($150 Prize): Hannah W. (right) for her Individual Exhibit, “Reevaluation, Reaction, and Reform in the Artwork of Faith Ringgold.”
SENIOR DIVISION ($250 Prize): Halimah F. (left) for her Individual Performance, “’All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave’: How the Combahee River Collective Revolutionized Black Feminism.”
THE V. CHAPMAN SMITH PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE is awarded to a Senior Division project in any category. This award is named in honor of V. Chapman Smith, who was a National History Day Philadelphia warrior, stewarding the program from its re-establishment in 2004 from her position as Regional Administrator for the National Archives Mid-Atlantic Region. In that role, she built alliances and partnerships that extended the National Archive’s capacity and supported the region’s cultural community to improve education outcomes. In honor of this incredible work and a lifetime of service, this award is given to the best Senior division project in any category.
Students who placed in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place automatically qualify to compete at the State Competition in April! Did you know that NHD Philly fundraises to make sure we can cover the costs (food, travel, lodging, and registration) for our Philadelphia students who go to the state competition? Find out how you can help us accomplish this with a gift to support our educational initiatives here.