PLEASE NOTE:  The National History Day competition provides
excellent visual and feature story possibilities. State Sen. Emily
Couric of Charlottesville will participate in the awards program.
Ruffner Hall lobby will have an information desk.

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY STATE COMPETITION
TO BE HELD AT U.VA. MAY 11

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., May 1 -- Approximately 300 middle
school and high school students from throughout the state will be at
the University of Virginia on Saturday, May 11, to present projects
on the theme "Taking a Stand in History," as part of the 1996
National History Day competition.
	The competition, to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in
Ruffner Hall and the Chemistry Building auditorium, will feature
colorful performances, media projects and a wide range of other
innovative displays about individuals and groups throughout history
who have stood up against superior powers and stood for what they
believed to be right.  The public is invited to attend the event,
which emphasizes basic research skills and rewards creativity,
according to U.Va. history professor emeritus Robert Cross, state
coordinator.
	Judges will include professors and teachers of history,
school board members and community members from throughout the
state.  State Sen. Emily Couric, who previously served as a judge
for National History Day, will make brief remarks at the awards
ceremony, where winners will be announced, beginning at 2:30 p.m. in
the Chemistry Building auditorium.  An outstanding History Day
teacher also will be announced at the closing awards ceremony.
	Peter Onuf, chair of the U.Va. history department, will
welcome the students at the program's start at 8:30 a.m. in the
Chemistry Building auditorium. Each of the participants in the
Virginia contest will have already finished first or second in one
of eight state districts.
	The first- and second-place winners in seven categories in
junior and senior divisions in the U.Va. statewide competition will
be eligible to compete in the national competition at the University
of Maryland June 9-13.  
	The state competition is sponsored by U.Va.'s College of
Arts Sciences and Curry School of Education and the Virginia Society
of History Teachers.
###
April 30, 1996
	For additional information please contact the state
coordinators, history professor emeritus Robert Cross at (804)
977-4708, or education professor Clifford Bennett at 924-0841.
Television reporters should contact our TV News Office at (804)
924-7550.




































NATIONAL HISTORY DAY:
VIRGINIA 1996

	Taking a Stand in History

Friday, May 10

6-8 p.m.		Registration
			Lobby, Ruffner Hall

6-8:30 p.m.		Setting Up Projects
			Ruffner Hall

Saturday, May 11

7-8:30 p.m.		Registration
			Lobby, Ruffner Hall

7-8:15 a.m.		Setting Up Projects
			Ruffner Hall

8:30-9 a.m.		Welcome
			Chemistry Building Auditorium (Room 402)

9-10:30 a.m.		Historical Papers
			Ruffner Hall

9-12 noon		Projects
			Ruffner Hall
			NB:  From 9 to 10:15 a.m., only judges will
be admitted to Project areas

9-12 noon		Performances and Media
			Ruffner Hall

11-12 noon		Teachers' Reception
			Ruffner Hall
			All teachers are invited for coffee.
Posters will be available that describe 	
			next year's History Day theme:  "Triumph and
Tragedy in History" 

12-2 p.m.		Lunch
			May be purchased at "Pavilion XI"
			Newcomb Hall, 1st floor

2:30 p.m.		Awards Ceremony
			Chemistry Building Auditorium (Room 402)

	Contest Information

	During the Contest, information may be obtained at the
Registration Desk in the lobby, Ruffner Hall.