Who are the students?
Students come from both public and private schools in the city of Chicago, suburban Cook, Lake, and DuPage counties. They are in grades 6-8 (Junior Division) and grades 9-12 (Senior Division).
What qualifications do I need to judge?
None! A volunteer History Fair judge has an interest in history, a commitment to support student work, and a willingness to give constructive feedback. Our diverse pool of volunteer judges includes teachers, retired and active business persons, non-profit organization staff, graduate students, professors, and parents.
- Novice judges are paired with veteran judges.
- We can assign you to the category that best suits you: read text and images in an exhibition or website, or listen and watch a performance or documentary, or read a ten-page paper.
Do I need to attend an orientation before I sign-up to judge?
We orient you on the day that you registered to judge.
What is the judging process?
- Judges check-in and receive the orientation.
- Each volunteer is assigned a partner and projects to judge.
- Judges evaluate projects and interview students.
- They confer with their partner and then write final evaluations.
How does the overall competition work?
The student projects evaluated for History Fair have been selected by their schools as their top projects. Students have an opportunity move to the Metro Finals, Illinois History Day, and National History Day.
How does paper and website judging differ from the big events?
Papers are judged during the weekdays and evenings. Websites are judged in cyberspace (the URLS are sent to the judges who then discuss their evaluations remotely). Remote judges do not interview students.
Where does judging take place?
Every event takes place at different locations in the Chicago area: Niles North High School, University of Illinois at Chicago, Lane Tech High School, Chicago History Museum…and cyberspace!
Will there be food?
Of course! At the full-day events expect lunch and snacks; at the half day events expect snacks.
What are the parking arrangements if I am not taking public transportation?
Parking is available at every location although there is usually a parking fee. Specific information will be sent in your reminder confirmation before the event.
What if I cannot come to the date(s) I signed up to judge?
Please give us as much notice as possible. Different judge attendance affects the quality of the day for your fellow volunteers as well as the students. Please sign up for the day(s) you will commit to judging rather than to the days in which you may be available.
May I bring a friend to judge too?
Yes, please! Be aware that we cannot assign friends/spouses to judge together as it unintentionally blurs the evaluations, and therefore can affect students — who are our main concern. We ask that you respect the assignment given to you, and consider that you and your friend will have twice as much to share when you meet up again after judging your projects!
How are the winners selected?
Approximately the top third of the projects from each contest will advance to the next level. The students and projects that represent Illinois at the National History Day are selected by qualified NHD teams.
How do I find out which projects have advanced?
The History Fair website posts the advancing projects for each competition level.
