Across the country, students are learning about the historical process through their participation in National History Day. Young historians from Stanislaus County are no exception, and students are gearing up for Stanislaus County History Day, slated for March 1, 2025, at Modesto Junior College.  The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will end with an awards ceremony at 2:00 p.m. inside the Mary Stuart Rogers Center.  More than 90 Stanislaus County students in grades 4^th-12^th are expected to participate in the day-long event.

Stanislaus County History Day is sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) and Modesto Junior College (MJC).  Cheryl Goulart, Student Events Program Manager from SCOE, and Curtis Martin, Dean, School of Business & Social Sciences from MJC are coordinating the event.  They will join more than 25 volunteers who will judge or assist with the competition.   

National History Day is an academic program that introduces students to the study of history by having them conduct original research and create projects that range from posters and exhibits to performances, documentaries, podcasts, and websites. “History Day encourages our youth to explore local, state, national, and world history,” said Goulart. “Students select topics connected to an annual theme and complete their own in-depth research on the topic. This year the theme is “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”  

For many students, these projects are their first experience researching and creating historical work using both primary and secondary sources. They are introduced to the skills of evaluating sources and placing those sources in a broader context. Students present their conclusions by creating museum-style exhibits, media documentaries, interactive websites, and dramatic performances.

The top three winners from each division and category will have the opportunity to represent Stanislaus County at National History Day – California on May 2-4, 2025, at California State University Sacramento.

Students from the following schools are slated to participate: Agnes Baptist Elementary, Bonita Elementary, Las Palmas Elementary, Northmead Elementary, Oakdale High, Orestimba High, Patterson High, Prescott Junior High, Vanguard College Preparatory Academy, and Yolo Middle.