State Contest Overview

The Florida History Fair state contest is held at Tallahassee Community College. The Student Union is the site of student registration and the main gathering area. Paper, documentary, performance, exhibit, and web site categories are judged in buildings nearby. Details about the contest and a map of the judging sites will be posted in March 2013. The Awards Ceremony is held at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum.

Schedule

May 5: Registration and exhibit set up, 3:00–8:30 p.m.

May 6: Registration and exhibit set up, 7:45–8:45 a.m.

Competition judging, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Open House at the Museum of Florida History, 5:30–7:00 p.m.

May 7: Awards Ceremony, 9:00–11:30 a.m.

Registration

Registration, which is conducted by category, takes place on Sunday from 3:00 to 8:30 p.m. and Monday from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. Students learn their judging time and location at the time of registration.

Judging

Exhibit, historical paper, and web site judging begins at 10:00 a.m., with interviews scheduled at ten-minute intervals. Exhibit judges read process papers from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.; web and historical paper judges receive their entries in early April. Documentary and performance judging begins at 9:20 a.m. These entry categories are allowed twenty minutes to set up, present, and disassemble. Judges read process papers during the set up and interview students during the disassembly. At least one member of any group entry must be present to meet with the judges.

Process Paper / Annotated Bibliography

Students with exhibit entries retain one copy and place three copies of their process paper/bibliography at their display by 9:00 a.m. on Monday. Students in first-round performance and documentary judging bring four copies to their presentation; the judges retain one copy and return three, which students bring to runoff presentations. Students with web entries include their process paper and bibliography in their online web site (see the rules in the NHD Rule Book). Students who prepare a historical paper are not required to create a process paper, but they must complete a bibliography.

Runoffs

Performances and documentaries that advance to runoffs are announced in the Student Union by 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Exhibit, web site, and historical paper runoffs are not posted. Judges do not interview students again during the runoff phase in any category.

Public Viewing

The Lifetime Sports Complex is open to the public for viewing of exhibits, web sites, and historical papers from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Monday. All exhibits must be removed by 6:00 p.m.

Museum Open House

On Monday evening, the Museum of Florida History invites students, teachers, and family members to visit from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The official state history museum, MFH interprets Florida's social history from prehistory to modern times with permanent and temporary exhibits. During the 2013 contest, a special exhibit, Reflections: Paintings of Florida 1865–1965, From the Collection of Cici and Hyatt Brown, will be on display.

Awards Ceremony

The Awards Ceremony on Tuesday is held from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum. Directions and a map will be posted in March 2013. Students who cannot be present should designate someone to accept their award in case they win. At the end of the ceremony, first- and second-place winners meet with the state coordinator to receive information about the national contest. County coordinators receive student certificates, judging sheets, and NHD information from FHF staff.