This year’s contest theme is “Debate and Diplomacy in History” and will feature projects ranging from topics in local, regional, state, national and international history.

Judging will take place from 9 a.m. to noon. An awards ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in the Academic Hall Auditorium. Exhibits and performances are open to the public and Southeast students, and all are encouraged to stop by for a look.

“Southeast’s 2022 History Day Competition continues our decades-long commitment to encouraging student interest in topics and events which shape our lives,” said coordinator Dr. Joseph Snyder, assistant professor of history and anthropology at Southeast. “This year, students have researched projects related to the topic of ‘Debate and Diplomacy,’ exploring everything from the legacies of slavery, child labor, and Civil Rights, to the histories of workplace safety, the origins of the Cold War, and the impact of technology on modern international diplomacy.”

This year’s contest has received more than 100 entries from K-12 public and private schools across southeast Missouri.

“Together, they resonate with issues which matter to all of us today – one need only think of events in Eastern Europe last week to appreciate the importance of the failures and successes of Cold War diplomacy, or the ongoing pandemic to recognize the need for a historical perspective on occupational safety and health,” Synder said. “That the students of our region have developed these research projects and seen them to fruition is a testament to their curiosity, determination, and accomplishments.” 

History Day is sponsored by Southeast’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Department of History and Anthropology, and the State Historical Society of Missouri. The University’s Historic Preservation program will award a $100 top prize for the best individual project in historic preservation. 

Winners from regional contests advance to the virtual state National History Day competition at the University of Missouri-Columbia in April.