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Contest Locations
The Florida History Fair state contest will be held on Friday, May 2, at Tallahassee Community College (TCC). The Awards Ceremony will be held in the Chiles High School auditorium on Saturday, May 3, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Contest Sites at TCC
County coordinators should arrange for teachers or chaperones to be present in each competition area to supervise and support the students in their delegation.
Staff and judges' headquarters:
SU Student Union Ballroom (Bldg. 35)
Student registration, exhibit judging, and student waiting area:
SU Student Union Food Court (Bldg. 35)
Exhibit judging:
LSC Lifetime Sports Complex recreation gym (Bldg. 15)
Paper judging:
LB Library (Bldg. 30)
Performance judging:
EWD Economic and Workforce Development (Bldg. 38)—Senior division
HSS History and Social Sciences (Bldg. 39)—Junior division
Documentary judging:
MLH Moore Science Lecture Hall (Bldg. 4)—Senior division
EN English (Bldg. 1) — Junior division
CH Communications and Humanities (Bldg. 5)—Junior division
SM Science and Math (Bldg. 18)—Senior division
Web Site judging:
CH Communications and Humanities (Bldg. 5)—Junior & Senior divisions
Runoff judging:
HSS Junior and Senior Performance—individual and group
EN Junior and Senior Documentary—individual and group
Performance prop storage:
HSS Room 107
EWD Room 120
Equipment drop off and pick up:
Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. in designated area (see map of competition sites)
Your Assistance Please
Students are asked to exhibit their best behavior while at Tallahassee Community College. We understand that everyone will be "keyed up," but please respect the fact that TCC staff and students have business to conduct without being distracted by noisy or rambunctious youth.
Registration
Registration will be held in the Student Union Food Court at the following times:
Judging Times
Judging of exhibits, web sites, and historical papers will begin at 10:00 a.m., with judges interviewing students at ten-minute intervals. Exhibit judges will read process papers from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Paper and web sites judges receive and review their entries in advance of the contest.
Judging in the documentary and performance categories will begin at 9:20 a.m. Each entry will be allowed 20 minutes to set up, present, and disassemble. Judges will read process papers during the five-minute set up period and interview students during the five-minute disassembly.
Exhibit Set-Up
Exhibits may be set up from 3:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. on Friday. Students are responsible for assembling their exhibit entirely, including using power tools. Parents and teachers MAY NOT assist the assembly process, although they may provide reasonable help carrying the exhibit and lifting it onto the display table. Students who require electricity must supply their own power cord.
Process Papers
Students in every category except historical papers must provide four copies of a process paper with an annotated bibliography. Students in the exhibit category should retain one copy and ensure that three copies are in front of their exhibit by 9:00 a.m. on Friday. Students in first-round performance and documentary judging should bring four copies to their presentation. Judges will retain one copy and return three, which students should bring to runoff presentations.
Media Equipment
Documentary classrooms at TCC are equipped with a DVD player, VCR player, monitor, and screen. However, the Florida History Fair cannot guarantee compatibility between software used to create DVDs and software available on TCC equipment. Documentary rooms will be open by 8:30 a.m. on Friday if students wish to test the equipment. Students also may show their documentary on a personal computer or bring a computer and LCD projector on a rolling cart. Counties that bring one set of computer equipment for use by several entries must inform the state coordinator to ensure that presentation times do not coincide.
Entry Representation
At least one member of a group entry and the creator of any individual entry, including historical papers, must be present to meet with the judges.
Runoffs
Lists of entries in the performance and documentary categories that advance to runoffs will be posted in the Student Union Food Court and at the HSS and EN buildings at approximately 2:30 p.m. Presentations will begin at 3:00 p.m. Runoffs in the exhibit, web site, and historical paper categories will not be posted. Judges do not interview students again during the runoff phase in any category.
Special Needs
Please contact the Florida History Fair Coordinator one week before the state contest if a participant will require special assistance or access: (850) 245-6326; kcsmith@dos.state.fl.us.
Social Security Number
State contest winners must complete a form after the Awards Ceremony to receive their savings bond prize. The form requires a Social Security number. Students should memorize or jot down their SS number before coming to Tallahassee.
Responsibility for Equipment
The Florida History Fair and Tallahassee Community College are not responsible for participant equipment, regardless of the value. We advise students not to leave valuable equipment or personal effects unattended.
Public Viewing
The Lifetime Sports Complex will be open to the public for viewing of exhibits and historical papers from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday. All exhibits must be removed by 6:00 p.m. Exhibits remaining after 6:00 p.m. will be discarded.
Museum Open House
The Museum of Florida History will host an open house for students, teachers, and family members on Friday, May 2, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The Museum features exhibits about various periods in state history. The Museum is located in the R. A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, approximately four miles east of Tallahassee Community College.
Awards Ceremony
The Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 3, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the Chiles High School auditorium. Students who cannot be present should designate someone to accept their award in case they win.
Chiles High is located on Thomasville Road, seven miles north of I-10. The school is located on the left side of the street; turn left at the second "School Entrance" sign on the median.
National Contest Participants
Immediately following the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, first- and second-place winners will gather in the Chiles High auditorium to meet with the state coordinator and receive information about the National History Day (NHD) competition.
County coordinators must come to the front of the auditorium to pick up students' judging sheets, historical papers, and certificates. Coordinators who are unable to attend are asked to designate a representative to pick up the packet. Unclaimed materials will be mailed to county coordinators, who must distribute the judging sheets and other items in a timely manner.
Dining Options
The food court in the TCC Student Union will be open on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., providing participants with on-site alternatives for lunch and snacks. Numerous restaurants and fast-food places are located within a mile of TCC, including Bianca's (pizza and pasta), Quizno's (subs), Bagel Bagel (sandwiches), Tropical Smoothie (smoothies and wraps), Los Compadres (Mexican), Gordo's (Cuban), and Po' Boys (Creole). In addition, three main highway corridors—North Monroe Street, Apalachee Parkway, and Thomasville Road—are within easy driving distance and offer a wide variety of restaurants and leisure activities.
History Fair Tee-Shirts and Mugs
Florida History Fair tee-shirts will be on sale in the Student Union Food Court during registration on Thursday and throughout the day on Friday. The cost will be $10 for all sizes except XXL, which will be $12. Please be prepared to pay with cash or by check because credit card sales will not be available. Any remaining tee-shirts will be on sale in the lobby of Chiles High School on Saturday before and after the Awards Ceremony. The Museum of Florida History retail shop also will have souvenirs, books, and other items on sale in the same area.
Gathering Spots at TCC
Students are asked to congregate in the Student Union Food Court before and after their interview. They may wait outside or in the lobby of their presentation building ten minutes before their interview.
Other Places to Visit
While you are in Tallahassee, we hope that you will visit some of our wonderful museums, historical sites, and attractions.