California students and educators participate in the Parade of States during the opening ceremony of the 2026 National History Day National Contest at the University of Maryland. 
Orange County students representing California gather for a photo during the 2026 National History Day National Contest at the University of Maryland. 
OCDE National History Day-Orange County Coordinator Julie Hull, left, poses with Sierra Vista Middle School student Aria Yatavelli and her project at the 2026 National History Day National Contest at the University of Maryland. 
Northwood High School student Yesha Gupta is recognized during the awards ceremony at the 2026 National History Day National Contest at the University of Maryland. 
Sierra Vista Middle School student Aria Yatavelli, left, and Irvine High School student Nicholas Soo pose with awards earned at the 2026 National History Day National Contest at the University of Maryland. 
Irvine High School student Nicholas Soo poses with a certificate recognizing his selection for a documentary showcase at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture during the 2026 National History Day National Contest. 
Sierra Vista Middle School student Oliver Wiechmann stands beside his exhibit, “Revolutionary Words: Jovita Idar’s Journalism, Reaction, and Struggle for Reform,” at the 2026 National History Day National Contest at the University of Maryland. Wiechmann placed fourth nationally in the junior individual exhibit category. 
Northwood High School student Yesha Gupta’s award-winning exhibit, “The Day Iceland Stood Still: From National Reaction to Global Revolution and Reform,” earned first place in the senior individual exhibit category at the 2026 National History Day National Contest.
Quick look: Orange County students earned a national championship, finalist honors, special awards and a museum showcase selection at the 2026 National History Day National Contest, helping California continue its strong performance at the annual competition.
Orange County students once again distinguished themselves among the nation’s top young historians at the 52nd annual National History Day National Contest, held June 14 through June 18 at the University of Maryland.
Competing against nearly 2,600 students from across the United States and overseas, Orange County participants earned a national championship, two finalist finishes, two special awards and a selection for a prestigious museum showcase.
Leading the way was Northwood High School student Yesha Gupta, who captured first place in the senior individual exhibit category for her project, “The Day Iceland Stood Still: From National Reaction to Global Revolution and Reform.” The Irvine Unified Student also received a scholarship from the National History Academy.
National recognition for OC historians
Sierra Vista Middle School student Oliver Wiechmann placed fourth nationally in the junior individual exhibit category with his project, “Revolutionary Words: Jovita Idar’s Journalism, Reaction, and Struggle for Reform.”
Classmate Aria Yatavelli finished seventh in the junior individual performance category for “Threads of Change: Revolution of the Loom, Reaction of the Workers, Reform in Code” and received the Junior Best in State special award.
Additional honors went to Venado Middle School student Joy Yan-Li, whose documentary, “From Revolution to Reform: Action to Reaction in the Third World Liberation Front,” earned an honorable mention.
Irvine High School student Nicholas Soo received the Senior Best in State special award for his documentary,” Education Liberation: How the Black Panther Party’s Oakland Community School Revolutionized Education for Marginalized Students.” His project was also selected for a documentary showcase at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
California shines on the national stage
This year’s contest theme, “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History,” challenged students to examine moments of change and their lasting impacts through original research projects presented as exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites and podcasts.
“Our students showed that history is more than learning about the past, it’s about understanding the forces that shape our world,” said Julie Hull, coordinator of National History Day-Orange County at the Orange County Department of Education. “Their success at the national level is a testament to their hard work, their teachers, and the strength of Orange County’s History Day program.”
National History Day engages hundreds of thousands of students each year in historical research, analysis and interpretation, culminating in competitions at the local, state and national levels.
A complete list of 2026 National History Day National Contest winners is available on nhd.org.
Learn more about National History Day – Orange County by visiting OCDE’s NHD-OC webpage.