Mansfield/Storrs, CT — A total of 272 middle and high school students made history come alive on March 2, 2024, by taking part in the Connecticut History Day Mansfield/Storrs Regional Contest at the University of Connecticut. Students presented a total of 163 research projects that included performances, papers, documentaries, exhibits, and websites in hopes of advancing to the State Contest on May 4 at Central Connecticut State University. Those who place in the top two at the State Contest will be eligible to participate in the National History Day Contest, held in June at the University of Maryland.
The Mansfield/Storrs event is one of five Connecticut History Day Regional Contests held this spring. They are the culmination of months of intense study and project development. Students have chosen topics related to the 2024 theme of Turning Points in History. They then conducted research and interviewed experts to shape their findings into sound historical arguments. Working alone or in groups, students had the opportunity to present projects in one of five categories – exhibits, documentaries, websites, papers, or performances.
“Thank you to our friends at UConn for hosting the Mansfield Regional Contest,” said Rebecca Taber, Director of Secondary Education Programs for The Connecticut Democracy Center. “It’s a great opportunity for participating students to experience all that UConn has to offer. We are excited to see the great work done by the hundreds of participating students!
The competition requires students to be interviewed by a panel of judges to discuss and answer questions about their projects. Judges include educators, historians, and history lovers who volunteer to serve at the regional and state competitions. Judges then select the top four in each of the five categories. The competition is open to the public with students representing public, private and home schools. Students can enter as part of a history class, school club, or as an individual.
During the competition students had time to explore the University of Connecticut campus. The awards ceremony featured Cyndee McManaman, Mansfield Regional Coordinator, Chris Todd, Executive Director of the Office of Early College Programs at UCONN, and Dr. Mark Healey, Chair of UCONN’s History Department. “Students benefit from History Day in many ways. They are able to conduct meaningful research on topics they value and turn their findings into a final product that showcases their strengths,” said Cyndee McManaman. “Additionally they get the benefit of transferring skills into their own school work. But HIstory Day is about more than the academic experience because students learn and hone important life skills and develop active interests in their communities that have long-reaching impacts.”
A full list of the winning students and entries has been posted at https://bit.ly/historydayctWINNERS on historydayct.org. Students placing in the top three spots in each category and division (Juniors – grades 6 to-8 and Seniors – grades 9 to 12) will be invited to the Connecticut History Day State Contest. Students that place in the top two at the State Contest are eligible to participate in the National History Day Contest.
Follow Connecticut History Day on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, or visit the program’s website at historydayct.org. For more information, contact State Coordinator, Rebecca Taber, at (860) 240-5342 or info@historydayct.org or visit National History Day at nhd.org.
An affiliate program of National History Day, Connecticut History Day (CHD) is a Connecticut Democracy Center program in residence at Connecticut’s Old State House. Support has been provided to CTDC through a partnership Grant with Connecticut Humanities. Additional support is received from the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, the New Haven Museum and the Franklin Foundation.