NHD Students Advance to Washington DC

On March 15th, Concordia’s campus became a hub of historical exploration as students from 27 international schools across China gathered for the 2025 NHD China student competition. Five Concordia individuals and teams claimed 1st place or runner-up titles, with our Senior Division winners securing spots at the Washington D.C. final contest! 

National History Day (NHD), a prestigious global academic competition, challenges students to dive deep into historical inquiry. A former Concordia history teacher introduced NHD into China in 2008, and the school has been hosting the national event ever since. 

(NHD China poster designed by Concordia senior Lucas J.) 

This year’s theme revolved around “Rights and Responsibilities.” From Cold War geopolitics to women’s rights movements, from humanitarian conventions to wartime ethics, Concordia students showcased rigorous research and creativity. Countless nights refining scripts, analyzing archives, and brainstorming ideas culminated in thought-provoking presentations. 

It’s worth mentioning that among the Jr. Division judges were two remarkable figures: William Q. and Cathy T. from Concordia’s outstanding Class of ’25, who brought their expertise to support the younger generation with a professional lens. (William will be heading to Columbia University to study history this fall.) 

“This was our first time judging, but we’ve both participated in NHD before as contestants. It was a really fun experience! What impressed us the most was their enthusiasm and growth. Even more inspiring was how eager they were to keep researching. Some of their papers were seriously amazing, and it was great to see their curiosity push them to learn even more.” – William Q. & Cathy T. 

Beyond their research, students this year tested their knowledge in fast-paced Kahoot games, gained insights from a Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum scholar, and explored the legacy of Archimedes through a dynamic lecture led by a passionate math educator. 

Concordia’s Award-Winning Projects: 

🏅 Jr. Division - Individual Website 

2nd Place - The Seneca Falls Convention — Sophia L.  

Jr. Division - Individual Performance 

1st Place - The Legacy of the Geneva Conventions: 75 Years of Humanitarian Protection — Derek D.  

Jr. Division - Group Performance 

1st Place - A Revolution: How the Seneca Falls Convention Changed World Views of Feminism Forever — Anna G., Gemma S., Amy Z. 

🏅 Sr. Division - Group Website 

1st Place - The Russification Process – A Negligence of Rights and Responsibilities. — Longlong C., Jonathan L., Galen Z. 

3rd Place - Fit vs. Unfit - How Eugenics Redefined Rights and Responsibilities in the 20th Century – Stephen J., Ella J.   

Sr. Division - Group Documentary 

2nd Place - Comfort Women: A System of Sexual Slavery — Claire J., Iris L., Carrie W. 

“I started on my NHD project during the summer at Concordia's summer camp with Mr. Perez. After, I started attending an NHD ECA taught by Ms. Rumford, where I did further research on my topic. The NHD China affiliate coordinator, Mr. Twaddell, also helped me figure out how to use the NHD website creator. Even though it took a long time to finish, I think NHD genuinely helped me become a more persevering person.” – Sophia L. 

“My main takeaway from NHD was to not be afraid to express and explore my interests. Most notably, we included a lot of contemporary cultural references and influences such as that of the Yakutian artist Keskil Baishev, which helped us stand out during the judging and interviewing process.” – Longlong C.  

“This was my second year of NHD. It has contributed to my personal growth by teaching me how to adapt to difficulties in the journey - such as a lack of primary sources - and how to overcome them.” – Jonathan L. 

“My main takeaways are the skills that we learned: reading academic papers, translating sources by using cross validation between different software and AI models, and analyzing those sources so that people can understand.” – Galen Z. 

“This was our first time participating in NHD. Mr. Twaddell guided us through all the complex steps of this process. It was really reassuring to have his support, and his feedback helped shape our project into something we’re proud of. We developed research and editing skills and gained a deeper understanding of historical research and different perspectives on events. These are skills and ways of thinking that we can definitely carry forward into the future.” – Claire J., Iris L., Carrie W.  

In addition to our winners, 14 Concordia high schoolers from five other projects earned finalist spots in their categories—an incredible achievement in itself! Congratulations to Siyeon K., SJ C., Ethan C., Ethan W., Kobe C., Riley J., Adam M., Ephraim E., Brandon Z., Brandon L., Tiger L., Priscilla C., Winnie L., and Coco L. for their outstanding work. 

A huge thank you to the faculty and student volunteers who made this event a resounding success. You’ve shown that history isn’t just meant to be remembered—it’s meant to be explored, understood, and celebrated.