CMU hosts Michigan History Day State Finals

Students from schools throughout the state of Michigan visited Central Michigan University April 20 to participate in the annual Michigan History Day State Finals.

The yearlong project-based competition encourages students in grades 3-12 to create papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites or performances about a historical topic related to the annual theme. This year, 375 students presented over 200 projects on the theme "Turning Points in History."

Students conduct research using libraries, archives, museums & oral history interviews that they analyze to show the topics' significance in history. They present their research individually or as a group at local and district competitions. Winners then move on to compete at the state finals at CMU.  

State finalists have the opportunity to participate in the national competition at the University of Maryland in June.

Michigan History Day is run by the Historical Society of Michigan and is an affiliate of the National History Day (NHD) program. Staff with the Historical Society of Michigan collaborate closely with the Department of History, World Languages, and Cultures, the Museum of Cultural and Natural History, and the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at CMU.

This is the second year CMU has hosted the event on campus. The program relies on volunteer judges to move participants through the competition and additional volunteers to help make the event a success. 

“CMU student volunteers are pivotal to the Michigan History Day State Finals, assisting families as they navigate campus and providing a welcoming environment for visitors,” said Rebecca Petrone, Museum Educator/Technologist at the CMU Museum for Cultural and Natural History. “We welcomed more than 800 visitors including families, teachers, and judges from all over the state.” 

 To learn more about Michigan History Day visit the Michigan History Day website or view images from the event.