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William Paterson University Hosts More than 800 Students at New Jersey National History Day on Saturday, May 5

New Jersey National History Day will be celebrated at William Paterson University with more than 800 students from across the state on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The opening ceremony will be held in the University Commons Ballrooms on the campus in Wayne.

Students will present research on the theme of historical conflict and compromise through performances, exhibits, documentaries, papers and websites at various sites on campus.

State qualifiers were chosen as the best entries at regional competitions held at Princeton, Kean and Rutgers (Camden) universities. The top entries at the state contest at William Paterson University will represent New Jersey at National History Day in June at the University of Maryland, where they will defend their research. Judges for the program include university professors, museum curators, historians and teachers.

National History Day is the largest history education program in the country whose mission is to provide students with opportunities to learn historical content and develop research, thinking and communication skills through the study of history and to provide classroom teachers with resources and training to enhance classroom teaching.

An independent national study found that after introducing National History Day into their classrooms, teachers reported that 95 percent of their students showed academic improvement. Students concurred – nearly 80 percent believed that the skills they gained from History Day would help them with other school work. Students’ ability to identify a primary source increased from 13 percent to 73 percent and attendance increased 50 perecent.

For additional information, contact Nancy Norris-Bauer, coordinator, at 973.720.3131 or norrisn@wpunj.edu.