The Institute of American Civics Inspires 59 Students to Explore Civil Liberties During Annual Tennessee History Day Competition
Knoxville, TN (May 8, 2025) – Recently, 217 students from across Tennessee participated in the 2025 Tennessee History Day Competition. Fifty-nine students chose to focus their projects on American Constitutional Liberties to be considered for a special award presented by the Institute of American Civics (IAC) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The annual competition is a program of the Tennessee Historical Society presented by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office and Humanities Tennessee. The IAC’s Award for Best Projects that Study American Constitutional Liberties drew 59 submissions in the following categories: documentary, exhibit, performance, website, and papers.
“The Institute of American Civics was honored to support the Tennessee History Day Competition,” Executive Director Joshua Dunn said. “We were deeply encouraged to see so many students exploring our constitutional liberties. The students demonstrated passion, scholarly rigor, and a commitment to understanding rights and responsibilities central to America’s history.”
The IAC special award category presented $2,000 in prizes. The projects explored topics such as Brown v. Board of Education, the separation of church and state, the Scopes trial, Eleanor Roosevelt’s impact on rights and responsibilities, Japanese internment, and Tinker v. Des Moines. The winning entries included individual and group projects from diverse schools, including McCallie School (Chattanooga), Disco Institute (Friendsville), Endeavor Microschool (Memphis), and Pleasant View School (Bartlett).
“For over 50 years, National History Day has inspired millions of young people to ask questions and research context, considering multiple perspectives. In fact, on average over 7,700 Tennessee students participate annually,” said Dr. Frankie Weaver, IAC’s educational outreach program manager. “Tying to this year’s theme of rights and responsibilities, while encouraging students to ask questions about freedom of speech and the significance of the open exchange of ideas presented a meaningful way to get young people to engage civically.”
A state affiliate of National History Day, Tennessee History Day consists of two preliminary district competitions and five regional competitions.
National History Day began in 1974 in Cleveland, Ohio, to encourage students to analyze historical events and draw conclusions about their societal impact. Over 50 years later, NHD’s work continues beyond the National Contest with teacher workshops and educational materials available each year.
About the Institute of American Civics
The Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, aims to strengthen civic education and participation while reviving thoughtfulness, civility, and respect for opposing viewpoints. The IAC is committed to improving civic knowledge and civil discourse through courses, student programs, public events, and K-12 outreach. For more information, visit civics.UTK.edu.