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NEBRASKA CITY- The Nebraska City Historical Society hopes to revive interest in the study of local history by offering to pay Otoe County students' entry fees for the 2025 district history day competition.

Peru State College is organizing the competition as part of the 50th anniversary of the National History Day contest. This year's theme is "rights and responsibilities in history."

It will be the 41st history day contest at Peru State, which typically attracts 100 to 200 students from schools in Otoe, Nemaha, Cass, Johnson, Pawnee and Richardson counties.

Nebraska City Historical Society President Kathy McKillip encourages students to connect with parents and teachers over the winter break as the deadline for entries is Jan. 31. The competition is March 7 at Peru State.

Here is the historical society's press release

 

Nebraska City Historical Society to Pay for District History Day Competition Entry Fees for Otoe County Students

Nebraska City, NE – The Nebraska City Historical Society, the states preeminent historic preservation organization, originated in 1937 to preserve and protect the history and stories of Nebraska City’s founding members and early settlement. Throughout the decades, The Society has helped revive interest in the study of local history, through education and historic preservation while also being the stewards of the Taylor-Wessel-Bickel-Nelson House and the Old Freighters Museum in Nebraska City.

The Society is excited to announce that they will be paying the entry fees for all student’s Junior (Middle School) and Senior (High School) levels who enter the 2025 Peru District History Day, as part of the 50th Anniversary of the National History Day Contest!

Students, working with their teachers and schools can select from 5 categories: Exhibit, Performance, Documentary, Website and Paper. The 50th Anniversary theme is “Rights & Responsibilities in History”. Historically, more than 100 students participate from 6-7 schools or technically 22 school districts. The Society will be paying the entry fees for all students registered within Otoe County.

In addition to category awards, all students who place 1st and 2nd advance to compete at the State competition held April 12, 2025, at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Students will also be competing for a variety of Special Awards and Scholarships.

This will be the 41st History Day contest held at Peru State College, Dr. Jason Phillips stated. Phillips added that, “the competition annually attracts between 100-200 students from schools in Otoe, Nemaha, Cass, Johnson, Pawnee, and Richardson Counties.

“We are very pleased and excited to have the Nebraska City Historical Society provide this generous opportunity to encourage students and teachers to utilize this within Otoe County. Sometimes, a simple entry fee can detract participants and schools from participating and by removing this barrier, we hope the number of participants soar from Otoe County”, Dr. Phillips stated.

Nebraska City Historical Society President Kathy McKillip added,” it is exciting for the Society to cover the entry fee. It is a strategic goal of the organization to increase youth participation and develop a stronger connection to history through learning, and this just made sense to the Board to do. We encourage all students to connect with their parents and teachers, review the categories and put an entry together over the winter break” Deadline for entries is January 31, 2025. Each entry needs a teach sponsor. The district competition will be held on March 7th at Peru State College.

For more information contact Peru District History Day Coordinator Dr. Jason C . Phillips: [email protected] or (402) 872-2213

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