Announcing the 2021 Michigan History Day State Finals Results

LANSING, Mich.—A total of 123 students received top honors at the virtual State Finals competition of Michigan History Day® on Saturday, April 24, 2021. This year, 250 Michigan elementary, middle and high school students took part in the Michigan History Day State Finals contest, which is an educational program of the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM).

In addition, 77 people volunteered to serve as judges, who evaluate the participants’ entries and provide constructive feedback. The finalists in the junior and senior divisions will now move on to the virtual National History Day competition. The winners of the national contest will be announced on June 19.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, both the state and national competitions were moved to a virtual platform for the safety of all involved. Switching to a virtual contest for the Michigan History Day State Finals presented some unique challenges for both students and judges. Students in the exhibit category included pictures of their exhibits when they uploaded their materials to the registration system. Performance students recorded their performances at school or at home, submitting the video along with their written materials. The judges missed the opportunity to interview and discuss projects with students but were still impressed with the quality of work.

"Despite the challenges created by the pandemic, students rose to the occasion and created some fascinating projects. The students did a great job connecting their topics to this year's theme, 'Communication in History: The Key to Understanding'," said Michigan History Day state coordinator Amy Bradfield. "We are very appreciative of the teachers who continued the program this year and supported their students as they worked."

The state champions for Michigan History Day 2021 include students from Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Canton, Clinton Township, Fraser, Gobles, Grand Rapids, Hickory Corners, Holland, Holly, Howell, Kalamazoo, Mattawan, Midland, Milan, Montague, Northville, Plainwell, Portage, Redford, Richland, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Roseville, Sault Ste. Marie, Scotts, Skandia, South Haven, St. Joseph, Traverse City, Troy, Twin Lake, Warren, Westland and Whitehall.

The virtual State Finals ceremony was broadcast to participants on Michigan History Day’s YouTube channel on April 24. A link to the recording of the ceremony is available on the 2021 State Finals page of the HSM website, located at https://hsmichigan.org/mhd/state-finals-2021/. The recorded ceremony can also be viewed from Michigan History Day’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Clyp1AaFPLo.

Michigan History Day (National History Day in Michigan) offers a fascinating opportunity to move beyond routine learning. Based on an annual theme, students choose to explore and research a local, national or international historical topic. Students then present their work in one of five categories: performances, exhibits, papers, websites and documentaries.

Lead sponsors of Michigan History Day 2021 are TCF Bank, The Meijer Foundation, and the Scripps Howard Foundation.

The Historical Society of Michigan is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828 by territorial governor Lewis Cass and explorer Henry Schoolcraft. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigan’s rich history.

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Editor’s Note: Since this was a virtual program, no photos of the winners are available.