National History Day Judge and Volunteer Information
Interested in serving as a National History Day in South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State Contest judge or volunteer?
The 2026 State Contest will be held Wednesday, April 8, at the University Student Union at SDSU.
We use judges from all walks of life: educators, college students, librarians, museum personnel, park rangers, journalists, alumni and even armchair historians! Anyone who loves history, research, the pursuit of knowledge and student success is welcome!
How am I assigned?
Ahead of the National History Day in South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State Contest, judges will be contacted to register as a state contest judge. At this time, judges will be able to request category judging preferences. The National History Day in South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã staff will then do its best to match the judges with their requested categories of expertise. Note that a category request is not a guarantee that you will receive that judging category. The more information you list about your expertise/background, the easier we are able to assign you to a judging category that meets your skillsets.
Options for both the junior and senior categories include:
- Documentaries
- Exhibits
- Papers
- Performances
- Websites
You will be contacted shortly after judging registration ends with your judging assignments and further contest information.
I've been assigned a judging team. Now what?
Judging teams consist of three judges with one of those judges assigned lead judge. The lead judge is an experienced judge that has either judged within National History Day in the past, or someone who has an expertise in the field. The lead judge's job is to help guide the co-judges and to ensure the team stays on time.
The National History Day program utilizes a process known as consensus judging, meaning you will work with your fellow judges to review entries, interview students, provide written feedback and select which projects advance from the State Contest on to the National Contest.
I've never judged before. Will there be training?
Yes! National History Day in South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã offers two judges training sessions ahead of the State Contest alongside providing digital materials to help you prepare and feel confident.
The first training session will take place roughly one to two weeks ahead of the state contests and will take about an hour. During this session, judges will get a detailed breakdown of National History Day judging procedures and will participate in category specific training sessions. If you can't make this session, recorded versions of the session will be provided.
The final judges training session will take place the morning of the contest.
What can I expect the day of the contest?
Judges will check into the judges headquarters in the University Student Union at 8 a.m. Judging can last until 1-2 p.m. depending on if you say on time and the number of projects you are assigned. Please be prepared to be at the contest until 2 p.m.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided, as well as coffee.
Parking will also be provided for judges who do not have a SDSU parking pass.
What's consensus judging?
The National History Day program utilizes a process known as consensus judging , meaning you will work with your fellow judges to review entries, interview students, provide written feedback and select which projects advance from the State Contest on to the National Contest.
Still have questions?
Additional questions may be directed to South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Agricultural Heritage Museum Education Coordinator Sarah Jacobs by email or by calling 605-688-4582.
Getting Ready to Judge
The NHD® program utilizes a process known as consensus judging , meaning you will work with your fellow judges to review entries, interview students, provide written feedback and select which projects advance from the State Contest on to the National Contest.
Judging teams consist of three judges. One lead judge, and two co- judges. The lead judge is an experienced judge that has either judged within NHD in the past, or someone who has an expertise in the field. The lead judge's job is to help guide the co-judges and to ensure the team stays on time.
The NHD Rule Book includes all rules and guidelines student entries are required to follow. Please read through the general contest rules and the specific rules for your assigned judging category prior to the contest.
