After months of research, creativity, and passion for the past, 67 middle and high school students from across North Carolina are packing their bags for College Park, Maryland. From June 8–12, they’ll represent our state at the 2025 National History Day® Contest, joining nearly 3,000 students from around the world on the University of Maryland campus for a week of historical storytelling, scholarship, and celebration.
These students earned their place at nationals by competing in North Carolina History Day, the statewide affiliate program run by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. More than 5,000 students participated in the North Carolina program this year, exploring the theme “Rights and Responsibilities in History” through original exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers, and websites. The road to nationals started with eight regional contests and led to the state finals on May 3rd at UNC Greensboro. From there, finalists were selected to advance to the national stage.
North Carolina Projects in the National Spotlight
Several North Carolina students were chosen for prestigious national showcases and workshops in Washington, D.C., happening alongside the main contest:
Thanapat Lucksanapirak, an 8th grader from Alston Ridge Middle in Cary, will screen his documentary, The WTO: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities in Global Trade, at the Oprah Winfrey Theater inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Andrew Larsen, a 10th grader from Watauga High School in Boone, was selected to attend a student writer’s workshop with the White House Historical Association for his paper, "Not in Our Name": The Central American Sanctuary Movement and the Struggle for Salvadoran Asylum Rights.
Elsie-Mae Clayton, a 6th grader from Swain County Middle School, will showcase her exhibit at the National Museum of American History, "The Federal Government and the Broken Promises," about the building of Fontana Dam and the Road to Nowhere.
Also at the National Museum of American History, a student performance team from Classical Scholars in Mills River—Ava Karis Renegar, Campbell Hodge, Elianna Yoder, Jonah Hardin, and Kyle Malt—will perform their performance, Nothing About Us Without Us: How One Group of Disability Rights Activists Fought for Recognition by Forcing the Government to Accept Responsibility for Discrimination.
Being selected for one of these national showcases is a once in a lifetime opportunity where students will present their projects in some of the nation's most prestigious museums and engage with museum professionals who are leaders in their field.
North Carolina Educators in the Spotlight, Too
It’s not just students representing North Carolina at nationals. Two teachers—Jeffrey Stanek of Holly Shelter Middle School in Castle Hayne and Emily Lemus of EDGE Academy of Health Sciences in Rocky Mount—have been nominated for national awards recognizing excellence in history education. We’ll find out during the contest if they’re selected for the top honor!
Who’s Going to Nationals?
Students from all corners of the state—from Boone to Wilmington—will be representing North Carolina. Each of them came in the top two in the state in their respective categories in order to secure their spot. See the full list by region below.
Award Opportunities
The week wraps up with the National History Day® awards ceremony on June 12, where the top three entries in each category will be recognized—and students will be eligible for special prizes, including awards of up to $2,000 for exceptional research in specific content areas of history.
Each year, more than half a million students participate in National History Day®, and North Carolina continues to make a strong showing—thanks to the dedication of teachers, families, and community partners who support student learning beyond the textbook.
Full List of North Carolina’s 2025 National Competitors by Region
West
- Charlie Hurwitz and Owen McAbee from Cane Creek Middle (Buncombe County)
- Isaiah Zebley, Gemma Edwards, and Lilly Cacawa from ArtSpace Charter (Buncombe County)
- Kate Huscher and Maddux Hansel from Hendersonville Middle (Henderson County)
- Cayden Rybicki from North Henderson High (Henderson County)
- Campbell Hodge, Ava Karis Renegar, Elianna Yoder, Jonah Hardin, Kyle Malt, Kathleen Godfrey, Colin Brown, David Ruland, Ezra Kushigian, Rowan Maishman, Ryan Malt, Anslee Renegar, Evie Koppin, Tybi Dugdale, and Zia Cartrett from Classical Scholars (Henderson County)
- Elsie-Mae Clayton from Swain County Middle (Swain County)
- Andrew Larsen from Watauga High (Watauga County)
Piedmont
- Anisa Hasanaj from the North Carolina School Of Science and Mathematics (Durham County)
- Elena Gale, Emma Rose Laurell, Sophia Siebert, and Zelie Polnaszek from St. Michaels Homeschool Co-op (Gaston County)
- Marnie Lasher from Early College at Guilford (Guilford County)
- Riley Gale and Woody Taylor from Woodlawn School (Iredell County)
- Finn McElwee and Suh Hee Shin from Chapel Hill High (Orange County)
- Laura Cratty and Louisa Cratty from Cratty Family Homeschool (Orange County)
- Thanapat Lucksanapirak from Alston Ridge Middle (Wake County)
- Magali Murray from Holly Springs High (Wake County)
- Arsema Belete, Kaana Anda-Morelli, Katelyn Kwark, Olivia Steigerwald, and Max Wagner from Pine Springs Preparatory Academy (Wake County)
- Catherine Kendall, Ellen Lan, and Joyce Xu from Cary Academy (Wake County)
East
- Joselyn Hutson, Sadie Lankford, Scarlett Rauen, Ben Gardner, and Gavin Oplinger from Holly Shelter Middle (New Hanover County)
- Lyla Varnum and Abigail Blair from The International School at Gregory (New Hanover County)
- Lily Atwill, Anah Stough, and Kayligrace Moody from Isaac M Bear Early College High School (New Hanover County)
- Olivia Stetler from Wilmington Early College High (New Hanover County)
- Adam Politi, Jackson Renton, Rowan Forkin, and Slade Forkin from Cape Fear Academy (New Hanover County)
- Mariana Nieblas-Lugo from Pamlico County Middle (Pamlico)
- Blondge Phanor from Wayne School of Engineering (Wayne County)
About North Carolina History Day
North Carolina History Day is proudly coordinated by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with generous support from the North Caroliniana Society and the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies.
Want to learn more about the program? Visit www.dncr.nc.gov/nchistoryday.