Press Release
Press Release · Friday, May 18, 2001

National History Day Contact:
Mark Robinson / 301-314-9542
mr209@umail.umd.edu

WASHINGTON - May 18, 2001 -- Visitors to the National Archives and Records Administration will see history come alive in dramatic performances and exhibits on Wednesday, June 13th. Young history scholars will present their work reflecting this year's National History Day (NHD) theme Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. next to the U.S. Constitution in the Rotunda and on the Portico of the National Archives Building, Constitution Avenue.

The student projects presented at the National Archives are part of a larger group of 2,000 finalists participating in the National History Day national contest at the University of Maryland at College Park June 11-14th. These young historians are bringing with them the products of months of research, and creative presentations in the form of dramatic performances, documentaries, exhibits, and papers. Represented at the National Archives will be: Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, Nebraska, Ohio and Virginia.

National History Day is the nation's leading humanities education program. This June, the program is celebrating 25 years of making history come alive for students across America. The program annually draws more than half a million participants in grades 6-12 in 49 states and the District of Columbia. "After twelve years of participating with eighth grade students in National History Day," states teacher Barbara Allen of Denver, Colorado, "I still say it's the greatest thing I can do with kids."

The NHD program provides students the critical thinking and research skills used in all subject areas. Students research history topics of their choice related to an annual theme and create exhibits, performances, documentaries and papers, which they may enter in competitions at the district, state and national levels. National History Day also provides educational services to students and teachers, including a summer internship program, curricular materials and Web resources, and annual teacher workshops and training institutes.

The National History Day Awards Ceremony on June 14 will be Webcast LIVE on HistoryChannel.com from 8:30 am - 11:30 am ET. A satellite feed opportunity is scheduled for June 15 at 4:45-4:50 pm ET with re-feeds at 4:55-5:00pm and 5:05-5:10pm; transponder coordinates to be announced.

The National Archives Admission is located at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Admission is free and the building is open to the public. For more information on National History Day visit their web site at www.NationalHistoryDay.org.

For additional PRESS information, please contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700 or by e-mail.

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