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.

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Advance to National History Day contest at University of Maryland next month

Pictured: (l-r) Governor Terry Branstad, Adam Dada, Lolly Telleen, Grace Moran, Department of Education Director Jason Glass and Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie

DES MOINES - Three Rivermont Collegiate students received top honors at the National History Day in Iowa contest Monday at the State Historical Museum in Des Moines.

Lolly Telleen, Adam Dada and Grace Moran 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) and received top honors for their entry, "Striking the Chains of Insanity" in the Senior Group Performance category. About 400 students in grades 6-8 will compete in the junior division contest Monday, May 7, 2012, also at the State Historical Museum.

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.

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Over the next several months the Hawkeye Caucus will profile "A day in the life" of a typical student on campus.

Last Tuesday, I woke up and got my day started at 8:00 am. I grabbed my laptop and checked emails from the night before for about 30 minutes, as I do every morning.  I then got ready for the day and ate some breakfast.

After breakfast, I read for my Health Economics class for about an hour or so to prepare for my class later that night. At noon, I went to the College of Public Health building for my Human Resources for Healthcare Organizations' class, which lasted until 2:00 pm.

After class, I walked over to the Iowa Memorial Union to eat lunch and held the first part of my weekly office hours for Dance Marathon. During these few hours, I caught up on more emails and then worked on improving one of our development areas for Dance Marathon. This included doing some data analysis and comparing it to previous years to see how we could improve for this year.

At 4:30, I started my Health Economics which goes until 7:30 pm. Following my class, I ate dinner and then read for my Maternal/Child/Family Health class, which occurs on Wednesday. After reading, I prepared for what I needed to do for the rest of the week and prioritized what needed to get done first.

Afterward, I checked emails for one last time and then talked with my girlfriend before falling asleep around 12:30 am.

Nic Rusher is a Master of Health Administration Candidate and is the Executive Director of the University of Iowa Dance Marathon.

DID YOU KNOW?

The University of Iowa Dance Marathon is the largest student-run philanthropic organization west of the Mississippi River.

Higher education advocates released new data today showing that an anticipated increase in the student loan interest rate would cost Iowa students $250 million per year. The increase would affect federally subsidized Stafford loans, which are provided to almost 7.5 million low and moderate-income students nationwide each year. If Congress does nothing, then beginning on July 1st, the interest rate will double from 3.4% to 6.8% on new student loans.

"In today's economy, students need a college education to get ahead," said Sonia Ashe, Iowa PIRG Advocate. "Doubling the interest rate for student loans would make this goal harder to achieve for thousands of Iowans."

"I'm already going to graduate with a mountain of student debt," said Jessica Tobin at the University of Iowa. "If Congress lets the interest rate double, then I'm looking at even bigger loan payments and it's going to take longer for me to get on my feet financially after I graduate."

The average student borrower already graduates with over $25,000 in student loans. On average, the doubling of the interest rate would add approximately $1,000 for every year a student takes out a loan, adding up to more than $4,000 over a four-year education.

To stave off the rate hike, Congress needs to act by July 1st to maintain the existing interest rate. Without action, interest rates on these loans will double, resulting in significant new debt for future graduates. A vote on the issue is schedule in the United States Senate for Tuesday.

"Student debt can change the shape of a young person's life," said Laurie Wolf, a financial aid officer at Des Moines Area Community College. "When students graduate with high levels of student debt, it can force them to postpone major life events like marriage, parenthood, and home ownership. It's important to minimize that debt, including keeping interest rates low, in order to reduce the impact it has on the lives of our graduates."

Today, the Center for American Progress, Campus Progress, and the USAction Education Fund will release reports detailing how an increase in the Stafford student loan interest rate would impact a number of states. These reports will offer new broad analysis, state statistics, stories of people who could be impacted, and support from student body presidents and campus newspapers.

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Iowa PIRG, the Iowa Public Interest Research Group, is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization.