Fifty-six students in grades 6-12 represented Connecticut at the prestigious 2026 National History Day® Contest at the University of Maryland tin June. The Connecticut History Day team, sponsored by LesserEvil of Danbury, joined over 2,800 students from the U.S. and overseas to compete in the 51st National History Day® Contest last month. Tyler Malkin a student at Greenwich High School, earned a spot on the Connecticut team by finishing in the top two at the Connecticut History Day State Contest following a win at a regional contest earlier in the spring. Connecticut History Day, an affiliate of National History Day®, is a Connecticut Democracy Center program in-residence at Connecticut’s Old State House.
The National History Day® awards ceremony was live streamed from the Xfinity Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. To view the Welcome Ceremony or Awards Ceremony, visit https://nhd.org/en/contest/national-contest/ . To view the full list of award winners from Connecticut, click here: https://www.historydayct.org/contests/national-contest/
“I am so proud of Tyler and the rest of the team who represented Connecticut at the 2026 National Contest! They have done such incredible work- creative topics, outstanding research, and incredible dedication. It was an honor to see them present their work to a wider audience Greenwich Students Wins at National History Day® and participate in so many wonderful experiences during the National Contest. Congratulations to Team CT members for their participation in the National Contest,” said Rebecca Taber, Director of Secondary Education Programs for the Connecticut Democracy
Students interested in the Connecticut History Day/National History Day® program participate in the program in various ways, including classroom instruction, after-school clubs, enrichment programs, or as an independent project. They are permitted to explore any aspect of history, from local to international. They can work individually or in groups on topics of their own choice. Students must present projects in one of five categories – exhibits, documentaries, websites, papers, or performances and learn how to identify primary sources, conduct research, and write a historical argument and thesis statement.
Inspired by the 2026 Annual Theme of Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History, Connecticut students chose a range of topics ranging from China’s Cultural Revolution to the Tulsa Race Massacre, to the Social Security Act and Mary Wollstonecraft.
During the week-long competition in June, Connecticut students presented their work to teams of judges who reviewed entries, provided students valuable feedback, and selected the top finishers. Rebecca Taber also organized several activities for the Connecticut Team, including a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal and a visit the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol.
Additional support for Connecticut History Day has been provided to CTDC by Liberty Bank, Draper Foundation Fund, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Community Foundation of Middlesex County, Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, and the Franklin Foundation. For more information, visit historydayct.org
The Connecticut Democracy Center (CTDC) provides people of all ages a lifetime pathway to active citizenship and the tools to take civic action in their communities. With a broad range of initiatives including The Connecticut Network (CT-N), Connecticut’s Old State House, Connecticut History Day, Connecticut’s Kid Governor®, The Connecticut Democracy Center Debate Tournament, and We The People: The Citizen and The Constitution, The CTDC envisions a society where everyone is empowered to participate in our democracy. Learn more by visiting ctdemocracycenter.org and engaging on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
