Dozens of New York City students are moving on to the state level after earning top honors in this year’s New York City History Day Contest, organized by the Center for Brooklyn History at the Brooklyn Public Library.
Seventy-five students in grades six through 12 were recognized as contest winners and are now eligible to compete in the statewide round of the program. Participants created projects exploring the annual theme, Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History, examining moments when people challenged systems of power, responded to change, or pushed for social transformation.
“As we try to understand the uncertain times in which we are living, the mission of the Center for Brooklyn History to democratize history is more important than ever before,” said Dominique Jean-Louis, chief historian of the Center for Brooklyn History. “I am delighted to see young people from every background and every borough participating in this year’s history day contest—and I am impressed by both the curiosity and the rigorous research they put into each project. I extend my sincerest congratulations to all of the winners.”
Students competed in five categories: paper, performance, documentary, exhibit and website. Their projects explored historical events, people and movements from around the world, often drawing connections between the past and issues that still resonate today. One project examined the 1953 overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, while others focused on major turning points in political and social history.
Brooklyn students were well represented among the winners. Award recipients came from several borough schools, including Brooklyn Technical High School, Fort Hamilton High School, Mark Twain I.S. 239, East New York Family Academy and Sunset Park Prep. Their projects reflected a wide range of research interests and creative approaches to presenting historical analysis.
In total, 294 students from across all five boroughs participated in this year’s contest. Students entered either individually or as part of a team, producing a combined 150 projects that were evaluated by judges. Participants came from a mix of charter, public, private and home schools, reflecting the broad reach of the program throughout New York City.
The competition relied on nearly 100 volunteer judges from cultural institutions, libraries, businesses and academic organizations. Judges reviewed projects based on historical quality, relation to the annual theme, clarity of presentation and effective use of primary and secondary sources.
The contest serves as the New York City regional competition for National History Day, a nationwide academic program that engages more than half a million students each year. Through the program, students learn how to conduct historical research, analyze evidence and present their findings through a range of creative formats.
For many participants, the competition offers an early introduction to the skills used by historians, journalists and scholars. Students spend months researching topics, examining primary documents and building narratives that explain how past events continue to influence the present.
