NC History Day Project Submission Guidelines

These instructions are to help you prepare National History Day® projects ahead of the annual contest cycle. Please read your project category carefully to see what materials are due for submission online by the contest registration deadline and what you will need to bring with you to the contest. More detailed instructions on how to submit items during registration will be provided in registration directions before each contest. 

Documentary Category

• Due Online by Registration Deadline: Students are required to submit their FINAL video file and a PDF of their project paperwork (title page, process paper, annotated bibliography) to the online contest system by the advertised registration deadline.  
• What to Bring to Contest: Students must also bring 2 printed copies of their project paperwork with them to the contest for the judges. Changes cannot be made to the project or the project paperwork after the registration deadline, as the judges may review the materials before the contest. 

Exhibit Category

• Due Online by Registration Deadline: Students are required to submit a PDF of their project paperwork (title page, process paper, annotated bibliography) to the online contest system by the advertised registration deadline. Judges may review project paperwork prior to each contest.
• What to Bring to Contest: Students must then bring their exhibit and 2 printed copies of their project paperwork with them to the contest for the judges.  

Paper Category

• Due Online by Registration Deadline: Students are required to submit a PDF of their FINAL paper and project paperwork (in this order: title page, process paper, your paper, and annotated bibliography) to the online contest system by the advertised registration deadline.  Changes cannot be made to the paper or the project paperwork after the registration deadline, as the judges will review the materials before the contest.
• What to Bring to Contest: Students must bring 2 printed copies of their paper and project paperwork (in the order listed above) with them to the contest for the judges. 

Performance Category

• Due Online by Registration Deadline: Students are required to submit a PDF of their project paperwork (title page, process paper, annotated bibliography) to the online contest system by the advertised registration deadline. Judges may review project paperwork before the contest.
• What to Bring to Contest: Students must bring 2 printed copies of their project paperwork to the contest for the judges. They should also bring any costumes, props (including table and chairs), or equipment (including extension cords) needed for their performance. Remember, performance students are required to provide and run all equipment themselves as outlined in the official NHD Rule Book. The contest host is not responsible for providing anything more than an empty performance space. Performance spaces may be a stage or an open space at the front of the room so students should plan for both possibilities. 

Website Category

• Due Online by Registration Deadline: Students are required to complete their website projects on NHDWebCentral and submit their website link to the online contest system by the advertised registration deadline. Their project paperwork (process paper, annotated bibliography) must be embedded as PDFs on their website as outlined in the official NHD Rule Book. Their websites will lock to edits at midnight of the registration deadline and changes cannot be made to the project or the project paperwork. Judges will begin to review the materials ahead of the contest.  
• What to Bring to Contest: Website students are not required to bring anything with them to the contest, but they may want to bring a printed copy of their process paper and annotated bibliography for them to reference in their judge interview.