West Windsor Student Excels at 2025 National History Day Contest
Emily Fou, a student at Thomas Grover Middle School in West Windsor, New Jersey, recently competed in the National History Day® National Contest, held at the University of Maryland at College Park from June 8–12. She was awarded the E Pluribus Unum Special Prize, which celebrates people in history who challenged the status quo.
The 2025 contest theme was Rights and Responsibilities in History. Emily joined more than half a million students globally who completed historical research projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. She created a Junior Individual Documentary project titled: “The Draft That Shaped A Nation: The Struggle Between Duty and Freedom During the Vietnam War.”
After completing a project, students compete in a series of contests beginning at the local level. Emily earned 1st place at the New Jersey Regional competition and 1st place at the New Jersey State competition. The top students in each project category from both middle and high school divisions in 49 states, Washington D.C., U.S. territories, and international schools are invited to compete in the annual NHD National Contest.
“National History Day continues to be one of the most important activities students can participate in during their middle and high school years,” said NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “This year’s National Contest participants represent just one percent of NHD students worldwide, and they should be proud of their accomplishments during the 2025 contest season. The critical thinking, research, writing, and analysis learned from NHD will benefit students far beyond academics as they become successful professionals, community-minded leaders, and engaged citizens.”
540 historians and education professionals served as judges for the students’ work. More than 100 students took home cash prizes between $250 and $2,000 for superior work in a particular category of judging.
