Contest Rules

Manatee History Day is only open to students of Manatee County (public, private, charter, or home school). We cannot allow participants attending schools in other counties to compete. To find out who your county coordinator is, please reach out to Florida History Day by clicking here. 

The National History Day Rule Book is to judge all projects at all levels of virtual and in-person competitions (county, state, and national). To view the rule book click here.

About MHD

Manatee History Day is the local affiliate of Florida History Day (FHD) and National History Day (NHD), statewide and nationwide thematic contests, like the science fair, that reinforces the importance of writing skills, critical thinking, use of credible sources, and other methods to prepare students for high school or college. Students can choose between submitting a paper, documentary, exhibit board, website, or a performance. The best of these projects are recommended to compete at the state contest in Tallahassee with the possibility of competing at the national level in Maryland.

Every year National History Day frames students’ research within a historical theme. The theme is chosen for the broad application to world, national, or state history and its relevance to ancient history or to the more recent past. This year’s theme is Rights and Responsibilities in History. The intentional selection of the theme for NHD is to provide an opportunity for students to push past the antiquated view of history as mere facts and dates and drill down into historical content to develop perspective and understanding.

The NHD theme provides a focused way to increase students’ historical understanding by developing a lens to read history, an organizational structure that helps students place information in the correct context and finally, the ability to see connections over time.

Please note that some dates may be subject to change and no exceptions to these deadlines will be accepted.

Student Schedule*

• Student Registration Opens: Monday, August 12 (students cannot register until their teacher does)
• Student Registration and Projects Due: Sunday, January 19 (for students to participate - their teacher must have registered by December 15, 2024)
• Exhibit Board Drop Off (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 1 from 9 AM - 4 PM 
• Performance judging (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 3
• Exhibit Board Pickup (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 from 9 AM - 4 PM
• Awards Ceremony** (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 at 2 PM

Teacher Schedule

• Teacher Registration Opens: Monday, August 12
• Teacher Registration Closes: Sunday, December 15
• Student Registration and Projects Due: Sunday, January 19 (for students to participate - their teacher must have registered by December 15, 2024)
• Exhibit Board Drop Off (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 1 from 9 AM - 4 PM 
• Performance judging (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 3
• Exhibit Board Pickup (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 from 9 AM - 4 PM
• Awards Ceremony** (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 at 2 PM

Judge Schedule

• Judge Registration Opens: Tuesday, October 15
• Judge Registration and Paperwork Due: Sunday, January 19 
• Deadline to Request Online Training Materials: Friday, January 24
• Judge Training (on-site): Saturday, January 25 at 10 AM 
• Online Judge Training Materials Due***: Sunday, January 26
• Paper, Website and Documentary Judging Opens: Monday, January 27 
• Performance Judging (at Manatee Village HIstorical Park): Saturday, February 1 at 9 AM 
• Exhibit Board Judging (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Monday, February 3 at 9 AM 
• Paper, Website, and Documentary Judge Materials Due: Monday, Februray 3 at 11:59 PM
• Special Prize Judging (at Manatee Village HIstoriccal Park): Tuesday, February 4 at 9 AM 
• Awards Ceremony (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 at 2 PM

Contest Schedule and Deadlines

Manatee History Day competition is a hybrid virtual and in-person competition 

Please note that some dates may be subject to change and no exceptions to these deadlines will be accepted.

Student Schedule*

• Student Registration Opens: Monday, August 12 (students cannot register until their teacher does)
• Student Registration and Projects Due: Sunday, January 19 (for students to participate - their teacher must have registered by December 15, 2024)
• Exhibit Board Drop Off (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 1 from 9 AM - 4 PM 
• Performance judging (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 3
• Exhibit Board Pickup (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 from 9 AM - 4 PM
• Awards Ceremony** (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 at 2 PM

Teacher Schedule

• Teacher Registration Opens: Monday, August 12
• Teacher Registration Closes: Sunday, December 15
• Student Registration and Projects Due: Sunday, January 19 (for students to participate - their teacher must have registered by December 15, 2024)
• Exhibit Board Drop Off (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 1 from 9 AM - 4 PM 
• Performance judging (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 3
• Exhibit Board Pickup (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 from 9 AM - 4 PM
• Awards Ceremony** (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 at 2 PM

Judge Schedule

• Judge Registration Opens: Tuesday, October 15
• Judge Registration and Paperwork Due: Sunday, January 19 
• Judge Training (on-site): Saturday, January 25 at 10 AM 
• Online Judge Training Materials Due***: Sunday, January 26
• Paper, Website and Documentary Judging Opens: Monday, January 27 
• Performance Judging (at Manatee Village HIstorical Park): Saturday, February 1 at 9 AM 
• Exhibit Board Judging (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Monday, February 3 at 9 AM 
• Paper, Website, and Documentary Judge Materials Due: Monday, Februray 3 at 11:59 PM
• Special Prize Judging (at Manatee Village HIstoriccal Park): Tuesday, February 4 at 9 AM 
• Awards Ceremony (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 8 at 2 PM

Judges

Late registrations will not be accepted. Registration must be complete and all materials submitted by this deadline.

• Must be able to judge appropriately based on the student's age (i.e. Junior Category are 11 - 14 year olds; Senior Category are 14-18 year olds) 
• Must be at least 20 years old
• Must be able to be unbiased towards students, project types, and topics 
• Must have a love for history (formal education or experience is not required) 
• Must be willing to attend the in-person Judge Training on Saturday, January 25 at 10 AM (at Manatee Village Historical Park) or complete the online Judge Training which must be requested in advance and requires passing a short quiz due by Sunday, January 26. 
• Must be willing to become a registered volunteer with Manatee Village Historical Park and be able to pass a background check 

• Manatee History Day (MHD) Program FAQ
• National History Day (NHD) Rule Book
• Judge Evaluation Forms 
• Z Fairs Judge Registration Instructions
• Z Fairs Virtual Judge Instructions

Please note that some dates may be subject to change and no exceptions to these deadlines will be accepted.

***

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like more information please don't hesitate to contact us at history.day@manateeclerk.com or call 941-749-7165.

Follow us @manateehistoryday on Instagram and Facebook for tips and contest reminders! 

***