Virtual Heart of Texas Regional History Fair Competition Set for Feb. 15-19

WACO, Texas (Feb. 9, 2021) – More than 120 students have entered projects in the virtual 2021 Heart of Texas Regional History Fair, which will be held online Feb. 15-19. Students representing 18 Central Texas schools have registered 75 projects in various categories.

All projects entered in the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair explore aspects of the 2021 National History Day theme – “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding” – and already placed as winners in their local school fairs. The public is invited to view the projects online at https://tx-htrhf.nhd.org/app/showcase?f=a8cafe0a-0c75-4d37-930f-b9e0dcc65a0d using access key 8453de74-557e-4390-a5f9-18483cf38ec8. A virtual pre-recorded awards ceremony announcing the winning entries, as well as special awards for students and teachers, will be posted on the HOT Regional History Fair website, on Feb. 19.

The first- and second-place winners from each category at the regional fair will advance to the virtual Texas History Day competition April 24. Winners in Austin will compete in virtual National History Day in June 2021.

Participation in the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair develops academic, artistic and social skills that provide lasting benefit to students in all areas of study. Specifically, students learn to:

• Conduct in-depth research,
• Use primary and secondary sources,
• Read a variety of texts,
• Analyze and synthesize information, and
• Write and present historical content.

Schools participating this year include: Atlas Academy, Belton High School, Belton New Tech @ Waskow, Brown Homeschool, Cesar Chavez Middle School, Eagle Christian Academy, G.W. Carver Middle School, Gilmer Homeschool, La Vega High School, Lake Belton Middle School, Lorena High School, North Belton Middle School, Olmstead Homeschool, Robinson Junior High School, Shafer Homeschool, South Belton Middle School, Travis Science Academy and Waco High School.

NOTE TO MEDIA: We appreciate any coverage of this event and welcome reporters to showcase this year’s Heart of Texas Regional History Fair (HOTRHF). The students involved represent some outstanding young people in the Central Texas area who have produced high-quality projects. For more information, contact Rachel DeShong, coordinator of the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair, at 254-710-3783 or hotfair@baylor.edu.

ABOUT THE HEART OF TEXAS REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR

The Heart of Texas Regional History Fair (HOTRHF) is a regional affiliate for the Texas History Day and National History Day annual competition and operates under the guidelines of the National History Day. HOTRHF covers a 14-county region in Central Texas. Founded in 1986 under the sponsorship of the Strecker Museum at Baylor University, the HOTRHF is currently sponsored by The Texas Collection at Baylor and is held each February* at the Bill Daniel Student Center on the Baylor campus. (*The 2021 HOTRHF will be held in a virtual format.) Participation in the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair develops academic, artistic and social skills that provide lasting benefit to students in all areas of study. For more information or to get involved in HOTRHF, visit www.baylor.edu/historyfair.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.