This year’s National History Day Contest challenged students in grades 6-12 to create original papers, exhibits, documentaries, and performances around the theme of “Triumph & Tragedy in History”. More than half million students participated and those who progressed through the local and state levels of the contest arrive at the University of Maryland this Sunday, June 10th to compete at the national level. Award winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns will kick off the event Sunday with a speech at the Welcome Ceremony. Contest judging will take place Monday through Wednesday of next week, with the awards ceremony on Thursday. But while students are still wrapped up in this year’s event, next year’s competition is already in the works, centering on a theme of “Conflict & Compromise in History”. Good luck to all the students involved, and remember, “it’s not just a day, it’s an experience”.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.