The Alabama Humanities Alliance’s 2024-2025 Alabama History Day program came to a thrilling conclusion this week. More than 40 Alabama students competed against their peers from across the country at National History Day, held at the University of Maryland. These students created some of the most fascinating, history-rich projects this year, advancing from Alabama’s state contest in April.
“There may not be a more inspiring showcase of students’ brilliance and curiosity in this state,” says Idrissa N. Snider, Ph.D., program coordinator for the Alabama Humanities Alliance. “Alabama History Day brings hundreds of students together to share their passion for learning about our past. These students are more than historians, too. They are authors, artists, filmmakers, web designers, and dramatic performers who have the freedom to choose their topics and share their research in creative ways.”
Alabama History Day 2025 state contest photos
National History Day 2025 national contest photos
The Alabama Humanities Alliance puts on Alabama History Day each year, helping students statewide (grades 6-12) cultivate their curiosity, learn to do primary research, and become confident, lifelong learners. The program also gives Alabama teachers a dynamic — and year-long — project-learning tool that they can incorporate into their classrooms. Each year brings a new History Day theme; in 2025, that was “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”
School-level and regional competitions take place during the school year, then the program culminates in our statewide contest, held at Troy University’s Montgomery campus. There, students showcase their research as exhibits, papers, websites, documentaries, and performances — with first- and second-place winners eligible to advance to National History Day. Students compete in Junior (grades 6-8) and Senior (grades 9-12) divisions, in both individual and group categories.
Alabama History Day 2025: Meet This Year’s State Contest Winners
National History Day 2025: Affiliate Winners (below)
For Alabama students who advance to National History Day, the experience comes with the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C.. These memory-making visits to Capitol Hill give our students a chance to see the halls of our democracy up close — and to talk about their History Day projects with their members of Congress.
This year, dozens of students, teachers, and parents were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the U.S. Capitol building, led by staffers from Senator Katie Britt’s office. Senator Britt also spent quality time meeting with Alabama’s students, taking photos, and leading a round of applause for Alabama’s National History Day competitors.
Alabama members of the House of Representatives also took time out from their busy schedules — sometimes even stepping out of floor votes and committee meetings — to meet with students from their districts. This year, students had the chance to visit with U.S. Representative Barry Moore (AL-01), Rep. Shomari Figures (AL-02), Representative Dale Strong (AL-05), and Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06).
“We are grateful to Alabama’s elected officials for making this experience memorable for our students, and talking with them about their History Day projects,” says Chuck Holmes, executive director of the Alabama Humanities Alliance. “In many ways, those meetings encapsulate what History Day is all about — learning about our nation’s history and being inspired to keep strengthening our nation’s democracy.”
This year’s D.C. day also involved some work for a pair of Alabama students. Lexington Bush and Jayde Robinson, of Mobile’s Murphy High School, were selected to present their exhibit at a “Smithsonian Showcase” at the National Museum of American History. Museum visitors had the chance to see these students’ work and ask questions about their research on “The Literary Legacy of African Americans During the Harlem Renaissance.”
“This was such a special opportunity for these two young ladies,” says Sarah Woltring, the girls’ teacher. “Having the chance to showcase their work in the museum representing American history is an inspiration for them as young learners.”
The theme for Alabama/National History Day 2026 is set, and it is an apt one for the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence: “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” 
All schools statewide are invited to participate and the Alabama Humanities Alliance offers school visits and trainings to help teachers learn how they can incorporate Alabama History Day into the classroom. AHA’s next public History Day workshop for teachers will be held September 12 in Huntsville, at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Learn more about Alabama History Day 2026.
The Alabama Humanities Alliance doesn’t do this alone, of course. AHA appreciates all the many, many event partners who make this possible, including our Special Award sponsors and volunteer judges who donate their time each year. And none of this is possible, of course, without the generous support of the state of Alabama, the Alabama Power Foundation, and individual donors year-round. To add your support with a donation today, visit alabamahumanities.org/support.
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