The 18th Annual East Tennessee History Day will showcase student performances, exhibits, and documentaries on March 1 for a chance at state and national competition.

There will be 324 middle and high school students representing 28 schools in East Tennessee public school systems. Student are from Anderson, Blount, Cumberland, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Scott, and Sevier Counties. There is also a number of private and home schools in the area to compete in 2019 East Tennessee History Day. The event is hosted by the East Tennessee Historical Society and the University of Tennessee Department of History.

Featured will be student historical research, knowledge, and creativity through history-themed projects in a variety of formats. These include museum-style exhibits, papers, websites, documentaries, and live performances. The 2019 National History Day theme is Triumph and Tragedy in History. District winners will move on to Tennessee History Day in Nashville on Saturday, April 13, 2019. State winners then compete in the National History Day competition in June at the University of Maryland in College Park.

The event will take place on Friday, March 1, 2019 at UTK Student Union, Cumberland Avenue Entrance (Levels 1, 2, and 3).

Welcome Ceremony: 9:15 - 10 a.m. – Auditorium, Level 1
Student Competitions: 10:00 a.m. – Noon, Levels 2 and 3
Awards Ceremony: 2:15 p.m. – Auditorium, Level 1

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. The 2018-2019 theme is Triumph & Tragedy in History.

Students in grades 6-12 are asked to research topics related to the theme. Examples related to the theme can be found almost anywhere—in the military, politics, government, communities, social movements, or in fields such as science, the arts, education, religion and economics Inspirations can come from most any place including local history, textbooks, recent headlines, TV shows or even Twitter. Students must share their findings in one of five categories—exhibits, performances, papers, documentaries, and websites.

A performance entry would require students to research a topic, write the script for the play, design costumes and props, and perform the parts. For documentaries, students research the topic, design or film the scenes and interviews, and write the script. Many students choose the exhibit category and illustrate their topics with colorful storyboards.

For more information on the East Tennessee Historical Society, visit the website at www.eastTNhistory.org.