NHDMO is looking for judges!
The National History Day in Missouri State Contest takes place on April 20, 2013 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. National History Day in Missouri is looking for historians, educators, and others with expertise in the various categories to join us at this year's state contest and judge student projects.
How to sign up to be a Judge
Email the National History Day in Missouri office or call 573-882-0189.
Please provide the following information:
►Full Name
►Email address
►Current mailing address
►Telephone number
►Category/Categories you prefer to judge
►Do you have students participating? If so, what categories?
►Any special dietary needs for lunch?
Students in 6th through 12th grades conduct extensive research on topics related to an annual theme and present their findings as individuals or as groups in historical papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, and Web sites. This year, the theme is Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events. We need more judges than ever, so please join us and pass the invitation on to others!
Judging for both the Junior Division (grades 6-8) and the Senior Division (grades 9-12) will occur at the same time. Generally, there are three judging groups of 2-3 judges for each category in each division. Each judging team evaluates approximately nine entries, choosing the top two or three to advance to the runoff round. Preliminary round judging begins at 9 a.m. and ends around noon, with the runoff rounds occurring from 1 p.m. to about 3:30 p.m. Mandatory orientation for judges takes place at 8 a.m. (or 11 a.m. for afternoon-only judges).
All judges will be mailed detailed instructions and a judging rubric prior to the state contest. On contest day, judges interview students after viewing their entries and provide written constructive feedback. Judges' evaluations are based on a discussion and consensus process rather than a points system. In return for your time and effort, we will provide a light breakfast, lunch, a travel stipend of $50 for those living more than 60 miles from Columbia, endless gratitude, and a positive perspective on our state's youth.
Interested in judging historical papers or Web sites? Please see additional information below.
You can also find the dates and locations for the regional contests on our regions page. All regions need judges—contact the regional coordinator directly to volunteer.
Historical Paper and Web Site Judging Procedures
Paper and Web site students will have the opportunity to interview with a full judge panel at the state contest, just as in the other categories.
Preliminary Round:
We will need 6-9 judges in each the junior and the senior divisions for the preliminary round of judging. Each judge will be assigned to one of three teams composed of 2-3 judges each. Each judge team will receive a third of the Web sites or papers approximately three weeks in advance. The judges will have about two weeks to review the entries. Each judging team will decide, through consensus, the top two entries in their group and notify the state coordinator. These entries will advance to the runoff round. However, on contest day, the preliminary round judges will have the opportunity to interview each student whose entry they judged. If, based on the interview, the entry moving on to the runoff round changes, the runoff round judges will read/view that entry during the runoff round scheduled time.
Runoff Round:
We will need 2-3 judges for the runoff round in each the junior and the senior divisions. The runoff judges will receive all six of the finalists approximately one week in advance of the state contest for review. On contest day, during the runoff round, these judges will review any changes to the group of finalists and decide, through consensus, on the final ranking of the entries.
Web Site Category Information:
Students develop their Web sites through a specially designed National History Day Web portal. They compete, as in most other categories, as individuals or in groups. The students submit their URLs for these sites as part of the registration process, so judges will be able to access the sites online. The NHD rules require that Web sites contain process papers and bibliographies, so there will be no physical paperwork at all. No technical or html knowledge is necessary to judge this category, though an understanding of Web site navigation and ease with the Internet is preferable. | 
