National History Day® (NHD) hosted its annual National Contest recently at the University of Maryland, College Park, where nearly 3,000 middle and high school students from across the country and around the world gathered to showcase their year-long historical research projects.
To coincide with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, NHD’s 2026 theme was Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. Finalists emerged from local, regional and state competitions involving hundreds of thousands of students. Project categories included documentary, exhibit, performance, website and paper across both junior and senior divisions.
“It is inspiring to see so many students engage with primary sources, craft their own historical arguments, and dedicate a school year to researching a topic they are passionate about,” said National History Day Executive Director, Dr. Cathy Gorn. “This year, as our nation’s democracy is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it is especially empowering for students to take on the theme Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. Every NHD student should be proud of their research and accomplishments.”
Among the nation’s top young historians recognized at this year’s National History Day National Contest were Maine West High School students Francesca Ocampo (10th grade) and Emily Owca (10th grade), who earned third place in the Senior Division Group Exhibit category for their project, The 1963 Chicago Public School Boycott: The Fight Against the Injustice in Chicago’s Education System.
Their award-winning exhibit explored one of the largest civil rights protests in the North, examining how Black students, families, educators, and community members united to challenge racial segregation and overcrowding in Chicago Public Schools. Through extensive research using photographs, interviews, articles, and historical accounts, Ocampo and Owca analyzed the causes, impact, and lasting significance of the October 22, 1963 boycott.
The students’ exhibit connected directly to the 2026 National History Day theme, Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. Their project highlighted the boycott as a powerful example of citizens organizing to confront injustice, the response of educational leaders and policymakers, and the reforms that followed as pressure mounted to address inequities within the school system. The exhibit guided viewers through the historical context of segregation in Chicago schools, the events of the boycott itself, and its enduring legacy on educational equity and youth activism.
National History Day is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious history research competitions in the world, engaging more than 500,000 students annually through local, regional, state, national, and international contests. Reaching the National Contest represents the culmination of months of rigorous historical inquiry, primary-source research, analysis, and presentation.
“Francesca and Emily are outstanding examples of District 207 students who learn, grow, and thrive, through authentic academic experiences,” said Maine West Social Science teacher Bryanne Roemer. “Their curiosity, persistence, and analytical thinking were showcased throughout the National History Day process as they conducted in-depth historical research and developed an award winning exhibit. Their success on the national stage reflects both their commitment to excellence and the strength of history education at Maine Township.”