Middle and high-school students from around Alaska are heading east this week to take part in the annual National History Day contest.

The National Park Service is the primary sponsor of the effort in Alaska. Darrell Lewis with the Park Service says 33 students from Alaska are participating in this year's contest, which is being held Sunday through Thursday next week at the University of Maryland.

Lewis, the National History Day coordinator in Alaska, says topics tackled by Alaska students include the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Julia Child, Henry Ford and 19th century reform of insane asylums.

The theme of the national event this year is "Revolution, Reaction and Reform in History."

Students present their work through exhibits, video documents, research papers, websites or original performances.

Prizes include scholarships.