National History Day to pump millions of dollars into Maryland - Baltimore Business Journal:

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From Sunday, June 14, to Thursday, June 18, thousandds are expected to descend on the University of Maryland in College Park for a history competitiohn among middle and highschool students. “We expect 2,50o students accompanied by 1,000 said Cathy Gorn, National History Day executivse director who has been runningb the program for27 years. “Then we have a lot of volunteersd and family membersso it’s nearly 8,000 peoplre total that will come to College Park for the She said the week keepsz growing by about 100 kids each Dorm and meal packages are being offerecd at the university and about 1,800 people are expectex to stay on campus.
Matt Neitzey, directord of the county’s Conference and Visitorz Bureau, calculated the $2 million spendinb figure based on those staying in hotels off campus for four nighta at an average room rate of as well as mealseatenm out. “The week will have a very healthy economif impact on NorthernPrince George’s County,” said “Plus it’s a cool showcasr of the best and brightest. The university gets to exposer itself to those potentiallyt coming toits campus. We have been delightedr to host [National History Day] for many years.” Many make the trek to D.C.
to tour the city duringh the week, said Gorn, and the University of Marylansd has shuttles on campus to take visitors tothe “All the hotels in College Park and areas arounfd it are completely booked,” said Gorn. “College Park in the summer is generallgy not the most exciting place to be but it getsprettuy busy. Restaurants and shops are always overflowing and the university bookstordoes well.” Research projects in the finals come in the form of written papers, exhibits, documentaries, Web sites and live performances.
More than a half million students that competed in the program at the beginning of the year have been shaver downto 2,500 through various regional and stat e competitions. Judges consist of 300 historians and other education professionals, and about $150,000 in scholarships will be awarded.