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Getting Ready to Judge

National History Day poster competition. Judges with clipboards evaluating student's posters while the students present their information.

The NHD® program utilizes a process known as consensus judging , meaning you will work with your fellow judges to review entries, interview students, provide written feedback and select which projects advance from the State Contest on to the National Contest.

Judging teams consist of three judges. One lead judge, and two co- judges. The lead judge is an experienced judge that has either judged within NHD in the past, or someone who has an expertise in the field. The lead judge's job is to help guide the co-judges and to ensure the team stays on time.


Required Reading:

The NHD Rule Book includes all rules and guidelines student entries are required to follow. Please read through the general contest rules and the specific rules for your assigned judging category prior to the contest.

NHD Rule Book

Judging Instructions by Category:

Choose your assigned judging category.

Documentaries

Exhibits

Papers

Performances

Websites

South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum logo with South Dakota State University written beneath it; SDSU logo; National History Day in South Dakota logo with Mount Rushmore