OKLAHOMA CITY — More than 60 students from Oklahoma competed at the National History Day contest in Maryland from June 8-12. The theme for 2025 was “Rights & Responsibilities in History,” with more than half a million students competing worldwide in regional and state competitions.
Junior Individual Exhibit
Fifth Place
“The Right to Sit: Clara Luper and the Oklahoma City Sit-in Movement”
Hayden Estrada
Canton Elementary School, Canton
Teacher: Tiffany Estrada
Tenth Place
“Tulsa Race Massacre”
Adriana Parker
Childers Middle School, Broken Arrow
Teacher: Wythe Dodson
Junior Group Exhibit
Seventh Place
“Saint Kate: Fighting for the Rights of Oklahoma’s Children”
Emberly Thompson and Mackenzie Day
Canton Elementary School, Canton
Teacher: Penny Heath
Senior Individual Exhibit
Sixth Place
“In Defiance of Hitler: Irish Women in the Resistance”
Harper Jones
Canton High School, Canton
Teacher: Penny Heath
Taleah Williams, Annie Kelly, Piper Roberts and Sydney Morgan from Morrison High School in Morrison were selected to showcase their senior group documentary, “Chilocco Indian Industrial School: A Rationale of Rights and Responsibilities,” at the National Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C. Their teacher is Patty Sanders.
The students from Oklahoma who competed in the national competition qualified after winning first or second place in the state competition held at the Oklahoma History Center in May. Students qualified for the state competition after winning at one of seven regional competitions across Oklahoma.
National History Day is a highly regarded academic program that is student-driven and allows students to learn about civic engagement while analyzing primary sources. The cross-curricular program meets Oklahoma standards for social studies and other subjects.
The 2025 Oklahoma National History Day competition was supported in part by a grant from the Bezos Family Foundation. The grant helped cover professional development workshops for teachers and strengthen NHD programs.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.