History Day is open to students in 4th-12th grades. Students participated individually and in groups. Students in 4th and 5th grades used posters to interpret the theme. Those in grades 6-12 chose from one of six categories: documentaries, exhibits, historical papers, performances, podcasts, and websites. By the end, 57 received medals, and 75 volunteers helped the day run smoothly.
"History is rarely a single event,” Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools Michael Davies-Hughes says. “It is a chain of actions and responses; one decision leading to another.”
“What stands out to me about the students' work is that they didn’t just describe events,” he says. “They asked deeper questions: What sparked the change? Who resisted? Who benefited? What were the consequences? That level of analysis matters. Because the world our students are growing up in is shaped by the same forces—big ideas, strong reactions, and ongoing efforts to improve systems and institutions."
Sponsored by Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) and Cal Poly Humboldt, History Day is a collaborative effort of teachers, coordinators, volunteers, and judges.
“I am reminded that when students explore the past with curiosity and courage, they discover more than just dates and names; they uncover their own ability to question, create, and understand the world,” says Agustín Amaro, History Day coordinator for the HCOE and Cal Poly Humboldt Spanish instructor. “The remarkable effort our teachers and students put into these projects shows that history is not merely something we study; it is something we create, one thoughtful inquiry at a time.”
The Humboldt County History Day community partners presented additional awards for outstanding projects related to special topics:
- The Jim Bush Legacy Fund, Clarke Museum, and Humboldt Historical Society recognized students who researched local history.
- The League of Women Voters of Humboldt County recognized students whose projects focus on the achievements of women and voting rights in history.
- The Cal Poly Humboldt Department of History presented the Delores McBroome Award to the student who composed the most outstanding historical paper on American History.
- Jeff Crane, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, presented the Dean’s Award for an outstanding project. The History Club at Cal Poly Humboldt presented an award for outstanding use of primary sources.
HCOE will award travel scholarships to outstanding projects determined by experts at post-county coaching sessions. The League of Women Voters of Humboldt County and Coast Central Credit Union are supporting these travel scholarships.
For more information, please visit hcoe.org/history-day/ or contact HCOE Coordinator Agustín Amaro at aamaro@hcoe.org or 707-445-7000.