Advance to National History Day contest at University of Maryland next month
Pictured: (front row, l-r) Governor Terry Branstad, Taylor Gehrls, Emma Hubner, Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie, Emily Bainter, Cydnie Carmody and Department of Education Director Jason Glass
Pictured: (l-r) Governor Terry Branstad, Taylor Beitzel, Department of Education Director Jason Glass and Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie
Pictured: (l-r) Governor Terry Branstad, Gretchen Mohr, Dexter Golinghorst, Department of Education Director Jason Glass and Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie
Pictured: (l-r) Governor Terry Branstad, Jenna Coe, Department of Education Director Jason Glass and Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie
DES MOINES - Eight North Scott High School students received top honors at the National History Day in Iowa contest this week at the State Historical Museum in Des Moines.
Taylor Beitzel, Emily Bainter, Cydnie Carmody, Taylor Gehrls, Emma Hubner, Jenna Coe, Dexter Golinghorst and Gretchen Mohr join a group of Iowa students who will compete against nearly 2,500 other students from the United States, Guam, America Samoa, Department of Defense schools in Europe, and Shanghai, China, June 10-14, 2012, at the 2012 Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland.
During this week's state contest, the students competed against nearly 270 other students in the senior division (grades 9-12). Following is a list of the students and their project titles and categories:
Category: Senior Individual Exhibit
Student: Taylor Beitzel
Project Title: "A Revolution to Cleanse Germany: The Handicapped Holocaust"
Category: Senior Group Exhibit
Students: Emily Bainter, Cydnie Carmody, Taylor Gehrls, Emma Hubner
Project Title: "Scattergood Hostel: Revolutionary Concept to Reform Lives of Refugees"
Category: Senior Individual Documentary
Student: Jenna Coe
Project Title: "People's Reactions, Medical Reforms, Revolutionary Goal"
Category: Senior Group Documentary
Student: Dexter Golinghorst, Gretchen Mohr
Project Title: "Igniting Reaction, Prompting Reform: Iowa's Revolutionary Refugee Resettlement Program"
National History Day is an academic-enrichment program that helps students learn about historical issues, ideas, people and events. The year-long academic adventure fosters students' enthusiasm for learning and encourages them to use primary, secondary, community and statewide resources on a subject of their choice related to an annual theme. The theme for 2012 is "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History."
Working individually or collaboratively in groups of two to five, students compete in the following categories: historical papers, individual and group exhibits, documentaries, performances and websites. Nearly 10,000 Iowa students competed in the program this year, with winners at school and district competitions advancing to the state contests in Des Moines.
In addition to helping students discover the world of the past, the NHD program helps them develop the following attributes that are critical for future success:
- critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- research and reading skills
- oral and written communication and presentation skills
- self-esteem and confidence
- a sense of responsibility for and involvement in the democratic process
The NHD program in Iowa has been coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department Cultural Affairs, since 1994 and is sponsored by the State Historical Society, Inc., and the History Channel. More information about NHD in Iowa is available at www.iowahistory.org or by contacting Millie Frese at 515-281-6860 or millie.frese@iowa.gov.
###
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state's interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. The DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the general assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
