Some of the students from the fourteen counties around the state who are going to the national contest in June

More than 350 students from around the state came to the University on May 2 for the annual New Jersey History Day competition with projects related to this year’s theme “Individuals in History: Actions and Legacies.”

The program, which operates out of the University’s College of Education, is the state component of National History Day, an acclaimed educational program that engages 600,000 students and 40,000 teachers each year in rigorous academic study. History Day encourages students to interpret history using primary and secondary sources. By doing the research to create their projects, students acquire valuable thinking and communication skills.

Students from fourteen counties participated during the 2008-09 school year. Sixty-two New Jersey students have advanced to National History Day, which will take place at the University of Maryland, College Park, from June 14-18.