COLLEGE PARK, MD — Sixty-nine Iowa students recently competed in the National History Day National Contest, held in College Park, MD, from June 14-18. At the National Contest, projects from Iowa received two medals, eight top-ten finalist awards and eight honorable mentions, celebrating their scholastic achievements.

To coincide with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, NHD’s 2026 theme was Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. Sixty-nine students from across Iowa joined more than half a million students globally who completed historical research projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. After completing their research and designing a project, students competed in a series of contests beginning at the local level. The top students from 49 states, Washington D.C., U.S. territories and international schools advance to the annual National Contest. Only 3,000 students advanced to the top level this year.

Judges consisted of 540 historians and education professionals. More than 100 students took home cash prizes between $250 and $2,000 for superior work in a particular category of judging, along with special prizes from a variety of sponsors.

Area students receiving awards include:

• 2026 Medalist:

Junior Group Performance

Students: Collins Grant, Naysa Rottink, and Rachel Sher

Teacher and School: Ann Jackson, B.R. Miller Middle School (Marshalltown)

Title: Jane Goodall: A Scientific Revolution, a Contentious Reaction, and a Reformed Definition of Man

• Honorable Mentions (Projects that received 2nd place in the first round of judging):

Junior Group Website

Students: Lydia Beek and Winner Moo

Teacher and School: Ann Jackson, B.R. Miller Middle School (Marshalltown)

Title: The Stonewall Inn: Catalyst for Revolution, Target of Reaction, and Engine of Reform

Senior Group Performance

Students: Alex Gutierrez, Conner Holman, Jade Schwartz, and Josue Corral Coronado

Teacher and School: Susan Fritzell, Marshalltown High School

Title: Death and DuPont: How One Lawyer Revolutionized How People Trust Big Corporations

Senior Group Performance

Students: Colby Cross, Jacob Seberger, Luke Stalzer, Parker Christen, and Preston Johnson

Teacher and School: Susan Fritzell, Marshalltown High School

Title: The Granger Movement: How a Farmers’ Revolution in the Midwest Sparked Nationwide Reformation

• Smithsonian National Museum of American History Exhibit Showcase

Senior Individual Website

Student: Jaevier Patel

Teacher and School: Susan Fritzell, Marshalltown High School

Title: JFK’s Impact on the Space Race: Shooting for the Moon

• 2026 Junior NHD National Teacher of the Year

Ann Jackson from B. R. Miller Middle School, Marshalltown, IA