Students from seven Maryland counties and Baltimore City will represent Maryland at the National History Day competition in June.
(Baltimore, MD) – More than 500 middle and high school Maryland students shared a year’s worth of history research and scholarship at the 2026 Maryland History Day State Contest on Saturday, May 2, at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
The competition serves as the culmination of Maryland Humanities’ Maryland History Day program. Students who participate in the program create original documentaries, exhibits, performances, research papers, or websites exploring a historical topic of their choice, based on an annual theme selected by National History Day®. For 2026, the organization chose the theme of “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History.”
Maryland History Day sparks critical thinking in students and helps them develop their skills in research, analysis, writing, and public speaking. This year, an estimated 27,000 Maryland students participated at the school level. The program is open to public, private, parochial, and homeschool students in grades 6 through 12.
Competitors at Maryland History Day have already won first or second place in their category at school and/or district levels. Students from across the state, including the Juvenile Services Education Program (part of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services), also received special awards, designated for outstanding Maryland History Day projects that cover specific subjects.
59 students will represent Maryland in the National History Day competition, where they will compete among an estimated 3,000 participants from across the country and beyond.
“Each year, Maryland History Day showcases the incredible dedication and curiosity of students across the state,” said Stephanie Boyle, Program Officer for History at Maryland Humanities. “From deeply researched papers to powerful performances and creative exhibits, our student scholars brought this year’s theme of “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform” to life. We’re proud to celebrate their achievements and excited to support these students as they take their work to the national level.”
National History Day will take place from June 14-18, 2026 at the University of Maryland, College Park, where students from all 50 states; the District of Columbia; Guam; American Samoa; the Northern Mariana Islands; Department of Defense Schools in the Atlantic; and international schools in China, Korea, and elsewhere will participate in this annual competition and celebration of student scholarship.
Maryland Humanities is also thrilled to name Victoria Davenport and Andrew Buffenmyer as the Maryland History Day Statewide Middle and High School Teachers of the Year, respectively. Davenport teaches social studies at John Hanson Middle School (Charles County), while Buffenmyer teaches social studies at North Caroline High School (Caroline County). Both Davenport and Buffenmyer were honored at the Maryland History Day Awards Ceremony.
“I am honored to be recognized for my work with Maryland History Day,” said Davenport. “It has been a program I have been involved in for my entire career of 24 years, and I feel that it is the best way to show students how to really work as historians. The skills students learn through History Day are life skills to make them informed citizens for our future.”
“Being one of very few eastern shore high schools that compete in Maryland History Day, and doing it as a completely voluntary after school club, shows the dedication of these students to their love of history. They learn research skills, communication skills, teamwork, and life lessons that expand far beyond the classroom,” said Buffenmyer. “My goal has always been to give my students experiences that they wouldn’t normally have in a rural place like Caroline County. Competing on a state level and experiencing the world around them does a phenomenal job of introducing them to the various aspects of life in parts of the state, country, and world that are not their own. This is invaluable, and I thank you for all that Maryland Humanities does to support this wonderful program.”
Please see the entire roster of 2026 Maryland History Day honorees here. To learn more, visit the Maryland History Day website. For any questions or other information, please contact Stephanie Boyle, Program Officer, History, at sboyle@mdhumanities.org.
Maryland History Day is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Historical Trust, MD250 Commission, BGE, the Crowe Foundation, William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, Thalheimer-Eurich Charitable Fund, Baltimore County Commission on the Arts & Sciences, Whiting-Turner, and Wright, Constable & Skeen, LLP.
About Maryland History Day
Maryland History Day is an affiliate of National History Day, a nonprofit education organization that promotes an appreciation for historical research among middle and high school students through multiple annual programs, including the National History Day Contest. More than 27,000 middle and high school students participate in this year-long educational program of Maryland Humanities each year, creating original projects that explore a historical topic of their choice on an annual theme. Professional development for teachers is offered through online courses and platforms, summer teacher institutes, workshops, and classroom outreach. Maryland Humanities produces Maryland History Day. For more information, visit md.nhd.org.
About National History Day®
National History Day® (NHD) is a nonprofit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. The NHD Contest was established in 1974 and currently engages more than half a million students every year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. Students present their research as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Projects compete first at the local and affiliate levels, where the top entries are invited to the National Contest at the University of Maryland, College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by HISTORY®, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Patricia Behring Foundation, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, World Education Foundation, the National Park Service, the 400 Years of African-American History Commission, the Better Angels Society, the Dr. Scholl Foundation, and individual donors. For more information, visit nhd.org.
About Maryland Humanities
Maryland Humanities creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. Maryland Humanities is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Maryland, private foundations, corporations, small businesses, and individual donors. Connect with Maryland Humanities on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and YouTube.