Nearly 230 Students Competed In The Oregon History Day Contest On April 19; 47 Students Qualify For National Contest (Photo) -05/19/25
Portland, OR — On April 19, nearly 230 middle and high school students gathered at Willamette University in Salem for the 2025 Oregon History Day competition. Students traveled from Ashland, Jacksonville, John Day, Portland, Beaverton, Creswell, Grants Pass, Mount Vernon, and other cities across the state to present their documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, and websites inspired by the annual theme, Rights and Responsibilities in History.
After having their projects evaluated by volunteer judges, 47 students qualified for the National Contest, which will take place June 8–12 at the University of Maryland. These Oregon students will join 3,000 competitors from across the nation at this annual celebration of student scholarship.During this trip, Oregon students will have the opportunity to explore museums and historic sites around Washington, D.C., including a special tour of George Washington’s Mount Vernon hosted by Mary Lang Bishop. They will also meet with Oregon senator Jeff Merkley and take a tour of the U.S. Capitol building with Senator Ron Wyden’s staff.
Oregon History Day, the statewide affiliate of the National History Day® program, is a student-directed, project-based, interdisciplinary learning program. Creating projects inspired by an annual theme, young historians in grades 6–12 choose topics to explore, conduct historical research, practice critical thinking skills, and analyze primary and secondary sources while considering diverse viewpoints.
Five projects were also awarded special prizes at Oregon History Day for their outstanding research on overlooked histories across Oregon. Award-winning projects include:
Asian History in Oregon Award
Unearthing the Forgotten: The Erasure and Remembrance of Block 14 (Senior Group Documentary)
Derica T. and Lucas Z., Lincoln High School and Catlin Gabel, Portland
Black History in Oregon Award
Nature and Society Versus Vanport (Junior Group Exhibit)
Gabriella K. and Lyric L.G., ACCESS Academy, Portland
Indigenous History in Oregon Award
The Chief and the Shaman: The Governance of the Kalapuya (Senior Individual Exhibit)
Keira B., Westview High School, Beaverton
Women’s History in Oregon Award
The Struggle for Immigrant Rights: Failures and the Fight for Justice (Senior Group Website)
Aashritha A. and Yatee B., Westview High School, Beaverton
Maritime History Award
The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972: The Right to Live Undisturbed and Our Responsibility to Protect Marine Mammals (Senior Individual Website)
Pranav R., Westview High School, Beaverton
Beyond the competition, Oregon History Day leaves a lasting impression on students, equipping them with skills in critical thinking, research, and communication that endure far beyond the classroom. As educator Amy McBride of ACCESS Academy reflected, “They remember the work and benefits of History Day for the rest of their lives!”
Oregon History Day’s success was made possible thanks to passionate educators, staff, and dedicated volunteer judges who provided invaluable feedback and support. Congratulations to all who participated — and best of luck to Oregon’s national finalists!
About the Oregon Historical Society
For more than 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and complex as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.