NHD students attend 2025 Historymakers Celebration

 Having National History Day students attending the 2025 Arizona Historymaker Celebration was a perk for Historical League members, honorees and guests. The 5 students brought their exhibits, papers, documentary to share. They also brought parents, sponsors, teachers. It was great to meet the support team for students who have such talent and determination. They chose a topic, researched it and competed all the way to Washington D.C. for National Competition this past June 2025.

Ira Parsons "What has studying the past taught you about the present?"

In response to Washington Post reporter Alyssa Rosenberg's solicitation,  "What has studying the past taught you about the present?", NHD student Ira Parsons submitted this brief paper. He commented, "Although it was not one of the few she published, it was a great opportunity to express what NHD has taught me."

And don't forget, Ira won the Library of Congress medal (“Discovery or Exploration in History”) at 2025 National History Day finals, becoming the first person ever to win it twice. 

 NHD Nationals 2025

Washington Post: “What Has Studying the Past Taught You About the Present?”

Response from Ira Parsons

I have learned that, although our times, technology, languages, and cultures may vary, the people we study in the past are the same people we are today.  Throughout history, most people have worked to better themselves and their families, hoping for a brighter future, and it is easy for me to see myself in them.  History is as much what happened a thousand years ago as it is what happened five minutes ago.

Studying the past reveals mistakes and miscalculations that humans have made, providing an opportunity for us to learn and change our behavior.  It has shown me the power of human resilience, offering inspiration to face adversity, and perspective on how people thought about themselves and their world, helping to understand how we view ourselves and our world.

Studying the past has taught me that change is constant, and that any predictions we have now about the future are as far-fetched as 1960s visions of personal jetpacks.  It also has shown me how easily people can be misled, emphasizing the importance of reliable sources, verifiable facts, and critical thinking.

By studying the past, I have discovered tools to understand and navigate today’s world, which really is not so different from the past. 

Library of Congress Steve Wesson presents Ira with his medal at the awards ceremony.

 

NHD Teacher of the Year Laura Shafer

 "I am so honored to be nominated for the NHD Teacher of the Year!" Laura Shafer has been a history teacher for 21 years in Arizona. "I started getting involved in NHD in 2016, first as a judge and then by having my students compete at both the middle and high school levels. There is no other opportunity like NHD to have my students engage in historical research. My students truly become historians, diving into archives, meeting with librarians and even interviewing historical witnesses. They become experts on their topics and build confidence in their academic pursuits. Having a 12 year old create a 10 page annotated bibliography is an accomplishment in and of itself! I have students come back and compete year after year, growing in their abilities and confidence as researchers. NHD is a unique opportunity for students who love history!"