2025 Judge Sign-Up for Minnesota History Day

We are so excited to offer in-person and virtual judging opportunities!

By completing this form, you are committing to participating and agree with the expectations of being a History Day judge. Additional training and specific contest information will be available by mid-February.

Want to know more about judging? Read the Judge FAQ.

Questions? Contact Ian Cunningham (ian.cunningham@mnhs.org) or 651-259-3428.

Email*

First Name*

Last Name*

Phone number

Street address

Street address 2

City

State/Region

Postal code

Business or higher education affiliation (optional, if any)

Many potential program funders want to know if their employees are also volunteers.

Were you a History Day participant as a student?

Yes

Have you ever had a child participate in History Day?

Yes

Have you judged for History Day before?*

Check all that apply

Yes, at a Minnesota History Day event (School, Regional/District, Research Papers, or State)

Yes, for National History Day in another state

Any accommodations to be a judge at this event?

If so, please describe. Please include any concerns you may have about walking, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time.

Conflict of Interest

In general, people affiliated with History Day students or schools are still allowed to serve as judges. The History Day staff will assign judges with conflicts to different categories/divisions.

Please note how you may be affiliated with History Day outside of judging, if at all.*

Parent/guardian of a current History Day participant

Current/former teacher at a History Day school

No affiliation

Other

Please list any schools with which you have strong relationships.

Judge Preferences

Please let us know ALL categories you would be willing to judge. We will do our best to honor your preferences, but please note that you may be ask to judge something else, depending on participation numbers. We appreciate your flexibility.

Note for Website judges: Judges will get the URLs for their assigned projects via email one week in advance. Website judges MUST look at these projects before the competition.

Note for Research Paper judges: Off-site/virtual judging only.

Acknowledgements

Technology: We will have paper evaluation forms for all judges at the event. If you are interested in typing your comments instead, you are welcome to bring your OWN device (laptop or tablet, not a cell phone).

History Day is not able to provide devices for judges. We will have access to a secure location for your devices, wifi, power strips, and extension cords.

I understand that if I want to type my comments, I must bring my own device to the event.

Technology: We will once again be using zFairs to run our contests. Because of how the system is set up, History Day staff will create a zFairs profile for you this year and share login information prior to the event. When this happens, you will receive a confirmation email from zFairs that you can disregard.

I understand History Day staff will set up a zFairs account on my behalf.

Training: We will be providing online training in advance of contests, with shorter event orientations the day-of each (in-person) event. Signing up to judge means that you intend to participate in one of the advanced virtual trainings or viewing the recording if you cannot attend live. More information about training will be available in February.

I understand that training will take place in advance of the event and will look for more information in February.

2025 In-Person Regional Event Sign-Up

Regional events take place throughout the month of March at several locations throughout the state. You are welcome to sign up for one or several of these events. Each event you select is considered a CONFIRMATION of where you intend to judge, please only select the ones you are available to be at in-person.

I will judge for the following regional events:

2025 Research Paper and Virtual Judging

There are limited virtual judging opportunities available this year. Please select the events that you are interested in judging for VIRTUALLY, with no in-person attendance required. Final selections for judges will be notified by the end of February. Virtual judging involves receiving the projects online, having several days to review them independently, and then meeting with your judge team to reach a consensus on top projects.

I will judge for the following virtual opportunities:

2025 State History Day Sign-Up

Sunday, April 27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center

We need the most judges for First Round at State History Day. Stakes are high at State and we hope to have judges with previous History Day judging experience.

Experienced judges are welcome to let us know if they are available to judge the Final Round of competition, but there are a limited number of spots available for this round of judging. We will contact you in mid-April to let you know if you are scheduled as a Final Round judge.

I will judge for the following at State History Day:

First Round (approximately 8am-1pm)

WAITLIST: Final Round (approximately 1pm-5pm)

Judge Confirmations and Email Frequency

You will receive an email copy of your judge registration when you submit this form. Please keep this email, as it will serve as your confirmation of registration.

Many of our judges sign-up months in advance, but schedules can change and unexpected judge drops cause major problems at events. We follow a schedule of communication to stay in touch and on top of judges' availability.

Regional Judges

Early February: Email reminder for each event signed up and training information and dates
Two weeks prior to contest: Contest reminder with location logistics
One week prior to contest: Website judges will receive URLs to review projects in advance
All other categories will receive information on how to review student paperwork
1-2 days before contest: Final reminder

State Judges

End of January: Email reminder
End of March: Email reminder
Early April: Training information and dates
Two weeks prior to contest: Contest reminder with location logistics
One week prior to contest: Website judges will receive URLs to review projects in advance
All other categories will receive information on how to review student paperwork
1-2 days before contest: Final reminder

Paper judges will get a confirmation of their role near the end of February. Paper judges will get their judging instructions and papers electronically in early March.

If you have any questions about your assignment, or need to cancel your commitment, please contact Ian Cunningham at ian.cunningham@mnhs.org or 651-259-3428.

THANK YOU

We are so excited to have you join us this year. Please share this link with friends or family that may also be interested in judging!

By submitting this form, you’re agreeing to receive updates and communications about the events you’ve signed up for.