Call for Judges

Maryland History Day 2012

Saturday, April 28, 2012

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The Maryland Humanities Council invites you to serve as a judge for the 2012 Maryland History Day competition on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at UMBC. Middle and high school students are developing research projects in local, United States, and world history this year for the Maryland History Day competition around the theme "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History."

Humanities scholars, teachers, librarians, museum professionals, and other experts serve as judges at the Maryland History Day competition, following guidelines established by National History Day. Criteria include quality of historical research, clarity of presentation, and relationship to theme. Judges review projects, interview student contestants, determine the winners, and provide written, constructive feedback. First and second place winners in each category at Maryland History Day 2012 will advance to National History Day at the University of Maryland, College Park, from June 10-14, 2012.

Categories include research papers, documentaries, dramatic performances, exhibits, and websites. Judges for the research paper category will receive papers at least one week in advance and will interview the students at the competition on April 28. Similarly, judges for the website category will review each website online at least a week before the competition. Judges for exhibits, documentaries, and performances will review projects at the contest and interview the students at the time the project is presented. For more information about History Day, go to www.mdhc.org/programs/maryland-history-day/ or www.nhd.org/.

Tentative Schedule:

• 8:00 - 8:30 Judges check in. Continental breakfast.
• 8:30 - 9:00 Orientation for judges
• 9:00 - 12:30 Judging of projects and interviews with students (length of judging period will vary, depending upon number of projects in category)
• 12:00 - 12:45  Judging teams meet over lunch to select winners in their categories.
• 1:30 - 2:45 Runoff judging (for those judges who can stay longer)
• 3:15 - 4:30 Awards ceremony (attendance by judges is optional)

To sign up to judge, register online or send the following information to jdobbs@mdhc.org:

• Name, email, affiliation
• Judging preferences:  middle or high school, exhibits, papers, documentaries, performances or websites

Before the contest we will provide judges with detailed instructions on assignment, rules, procedures, location, parking, and other information. If you have any questions, contact Judy Dobbs at jdobbs@mdhc.org or 410-685-4185.

Maryland History Day is a program of the Maryland Humanities Council and is generously supported by the Maryland State Department of Education and National History Day