Mercyhurst to host National History Day regional contest

Mercyhurst University will host the Region 1 Contest for National History Day in Pennsylvania on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027, bringing middle and high school students from across northwestern Pennsylvania to campus as the university celebrates 100 years of history.

“Bringing the Region 1 competition to campus gives Mercyhurst University the opportunity to support the academic progress of our region’s students,” said Dr. Benjamin Scharff, event host and chair of the Department of History. “We’re thankful to have the opportunity to use our beautiful campus and strong tradition of hospitality to provide this service to our community.”

Previously held at Allegheny College, Region 1 includes Erie, Warren, Crawford, and McKean counties. Regional contests serve as qualifying events for the statewide contest. The top-performing projects will advance to the Pennsylvania State Finals, held in Scranton, Pennsylvania. From there, the state winners will proceed to the National Contest, held at the University of Maryland.

Each year, students around the world explore the past through extensive research projects and presentations through National History Day’s program. Students build strong skills in communication, project management, and historical thinking, abilities that serve them far beyond the competition.

In addition to the competition, the day will include history-related activities, a historically themed tour of campus, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic District, and lunch in a campus dining facility.

Schools that plan to participate should notify Dr. Scharff by Sunday, Nov. 1. Campus community members who would like to participate as judges or lend a helping hand can also reach out to Dr. Scharff as soon as possible. His email is bscharff@mercyhurst.edu.

“Mercyhurst is proud to be the new home for the contest and looks forward to welcoming students from across the region for an exciting day of celebrating historical inquiry, student achievement, and the importance of understanding a shared past to learn how to navigate the future,” shared Dr. Scharff.

Information about National History Day, including project categories, rules, and guidelines, can be found at nhd.org/en/contest.