Area students gain deeper understanding of Ohio history

Middle and high schoolers compete in Ohio History Day competition, showcasing projects on state's past

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:19am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a vintage Ohio state flag icon repeated in a tight grid pattern, utilizing flat, vibrant, and unnatural neon color palettes overlapping with heavy black photographic outlines to turn an everyday state symbol into modern pop art.The Ohio History Day competition celebrates the state's rich past through student-led projects that showcase local pride and a passion for preserving history.Youngstown Today

A group of 128 middle and high school students from Ohio's Region 4 competed in the annual Ohio History Day competition hosted by Youngstown State University, with participants creating projects exploring the 2026 theme of 'Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History' through documentaries, papers, performances, websites, and exhibits. Several students were recognized for their work focusing on Ohio-specific history topics, including the Wright Brothers, the Ku Klux Klan's presence in the 1960s, and Youngstown's industrial past.

Why it matters

The Ohio History Day competition provides an opportunity for students to develop critical research and presentation skills while also gaining a deeper understanding of the history of their state and local communities. By encouraging students to explore Ohio-specific topics, the event helps promote pride in the state's heritage and highlights the importance of preserving and sharing local history.

The details

The Region 4 Ohio History Day competition, hosted by Youngstown State University, featured 71 projects from 32 teams and 56 judges. Students worked individually or in groups to create projects in one of five categories - documentary, paper, performance, website, and exhibit. Several students were recognized for their Ohio-focused projects, including a second-place finish for a project on the Wright Brothers, a first-place website on the Ku Klux Klan's presence in the 1960s, and a first-place individual exhibit on Youngstown's industrial history.

  • The Region 4 Ohio History Day competition took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • Winners from Region 4 will advance to the 2026 state contest at Capital University in Columbus.
  • Those state winners will then participate in the 2026 national contest at the University of Maryland.

The players

David Simonelli

Youngstown State University professor and Region 4 Ohio History Day coordinator.

Zachary Morgan and Jimmy Van Valien

Students from St. Rose School in Girard who received second place in the Junior Group Exhibit category.

Julian Zhybak, Jackson Powell and Jossiel Martinez

Students from St. Rose School who received first place in the Junior Group Website category.

Nick Velotta

Student from Notre Dame Elementary School in Chardon who received first place in the Junior Individual Website category.

Liam Sharlock

Student from St. Rose Catholic School who received first place in the Junior Individual Exhibit category and multiple other awards.

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What they’re saying

“For students it's an opportunity to learn historical methodology, to interpret sources and learn what a historian does for a living and why it's important.”

— David Simonelli, Youngstown State University professor and Region 4 Ohio History Day coordinator

“For educators and teachers, it's a great opportunity to bask in the talents and excitement of another generation of kids who have the same value for history that they do.”

— David Simonelli, Youngstown State University professor and Region 4 Ohio History Day coordinator

“Kids are always encouraged to study local history because it's a great way of getting primary sources to use in assembling their projects; that's part of why the MVHS offers its award, and other local museums always promote the contest too, especially the Steel Museum, to encourage kids to study in their archives.”

— David Simonelli, Youngstown State University professor and Region 4 Ohio History Day coordinator

“It's a chance to take pride in kids learning about the community they live in when they do a local history subject, and to promote how their schools foster excitement for academic subjects that will benefit the community when they grow into adults.”

— David Simonelli, Youngstown State University professor and Region 4 Ohio History Day coordinator

What’s next

Winners from Region 4 will advance to the 2026 state contest at Capital University in Columbus. Those state winners will then participate in the 2026 national contest at the University of Maryland.

The takeaway

The Ohio History Day competition encourages students to explore the rich history of their state and local communities, developing valuable research and presentation skills while also fostering a sense of pride and connection to the places they call home.