National History Day 2021
NHD Finalists
These projects were selected as the top project in their preliminary judging room. Only ten projects from each category are selected as NHD Finalists!
- Senior Group Documentary “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”: The Media’s Misrepresentation of the Black Panther Party by Brent Pennington, Sandra Mordi, and Kara Tao. University of Chicago Lab High School, Dr. Cynthia Jurisson.
- Junior Group Exhibit The Subjacent Meanings of Jazz: A Means of Communication for Social Change by Alyssa Senese and Alvena Bhutiani. Mead Junior High, Ms. Julie Morrison.
- Junior Individual Exhibit The Phoenix from the Ashes: How and Why the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Blazed a Trail in Workers’ Rights by Fiona Jin. Twin Groves Middle School, Ms. Jill Leone.
- Junior Individual Exhibit A Polish Immigrant’s Read: Historic Polish Newspapers in Chicago by Sophia Borgula. Lane Tech Academic Center, Ms. Tina-Marie Turner.
- Junior Individual Website “The Whole World Is Watching!” by Steven Jiang. Keller Regional Gifted Center, Ms. Kelly Walsh.
NHD Special Award Winners
NHD awards a number of student Special Awards each year. Only one project from each division (junior and senior) are selected for each prize.
Equality in History Award
- Junior Individual Performance, STAND UP, FIGHT BACK: Larry Kramer, ACT UP and a Philosophy of Anger In Activism by Caspian Pirtle. The Catherine Cook School, Ms. Jessica Majors.
National Showcase Selections
The national museum listed below host online showcases for particular categories and topics. Congratulations to the projects selected for the showcases this year!
- Mary Ann Bickerdyke: The Messenger on The Battlefield by Joan Huh. Carbondale Community High School, Mr. Charles Buss.
- A Polish Immigrant’s Read: Historic Polish Newspapers in Chicago by Sophia Borgula. Lane Tech Academic Center, Ms. Tina-Marie Turner.
- “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”: The Media’s Misrepresentation of the Black Panther Party by Brent Pennington, Sandra Mordi, and Kara Tao. University of Chicago Lab High School, Dr. Cynthia Jurisson.
- Communication In History: The Key To Understanding The 1963 Chicago Public Schools Boycott by Gabrielle Domercant. Mayer Elementary School, Ms. Ditra Backup
Outstanding Entries
One Junior Division and one Senior Division project are selected as Outstanding Entries from each affiliate. Congratulations to Illinois’s Outstanding Entries!
- Senior Group Website Fred Hampton by Eleonore Vuillemin, Grace Sawin, and Ishani Pidara. Lincoln Park High School, Ms. Sandra Koehler.
- Junior Individual Exhibit The Phoenix from the Ashes: How and Why the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Blazed a Trail in Workers’ Rights by Fiona Jin. Twin Groves Middle School, Ms. Jill Leone.