North Carolina middle and high school students, as well as their teachers, shined with award recognition in the National History Day (NHD) Contest, June 14-18, at the University of Maryland, College Park. A first place, second place, several special awards and other awards were among honors bestowed on students from the Tar Heel state.
"We are so happy for the students," says Laura Ketcham, outreach coordinator, N.C. Office of Archives and History, which administers the program. "They have worked hard all year, and it's wonderful to see them rewarded in an academic competition that involves students from all across the country." A total of 68 students in middle and high school divisions from North Carolina were among more than 3,000 contestants from all 50 states and from international schools. They brought home a gold and a silver medal and other awards.
The National History Day (NHD) Contest increases historical understanding by encouraging students to do the hands-on work of historians. National History Day in North Carolina is a yearlong academic program for public, private and home school students in grades six through 12, and is affiliated with the national NHD program. Participating students selected a topic to research on this year's theme Leadership and Legacy in History using historic documents, artifacts, travel to historic sites and other primary sources.Students make individual or group presentations by creating exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites or historical research papers. Awards are made in each category in middle or high school divisions. Approximately 3,000 North Carolina students participate in the program from district to state level. The state winners advanced to the national competition in Maryland.
N.C. students praised their national contest experience. "This was my first year in NHD," said Ellie Stout of Classical Scholars. "It has been an experience I will never forget. I loved every second of it."
In the Junior Division, Samantha Penny, Clancy Penny, McCollough Perry, Grace Bowen and Lillian Ward of Classical Scholars in Henderson County placed first in the nation for their group performance, "The Brothers Grimm: How Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Led the Movement to Preserve Culture and Created a Legacy of Literature."
In the Senior Division, James Dillon, Hannah Grady, Ethan Byrd, and Samantha Grady of Classical Scholars in Henderson County placed second in the nation for their group performance, "Hard Times: How the Work of Charles Dickens Created a Legacy of Literacy and Social Reform."
Mead Krowka of Hendersonville High School, Henderson County, won the Library of Congress' "Discovery or Exploration in History Award" for his senior individual performance, "By Endurance We Conquer: The Leadership and Legacy of Sir Ernest Shackleton."
The prestigious Legacy Award went to Caroline Murphy, Chapel Hill High School, Orange County. This award is offered by the Creativity Foundation to "those curious, innovative and motivated individuals at the start of their careers who deserve greater recognition, encouragement and mentoring." Each year, National History Day and five other organizations each select a recipient for this award.
One student from each state is recognized with the Salute to Courage Award, which is sponsored by the National World War II Museum. The North Carolina recipient is Sydney Dye, Chapel Hill High School, Orange County. She and a chaperone will attend the opening of the Road to Tokyo exhibition at the World War II Museum in New Orleans later this year.
Two students from each state are recognized for the Outstanding State Entry Award. The North Carolina recipients include Kimber Belk, Immaculata Catholic School, Henderson County, for her junior individual performance, "Blurring the Lines: The Leadership and Legacy of the French Impressionists;" and Catherine McMillan, Ardrey Kell High School, Mecklenburg County, for her senior individual documentary, "Eunice Kennedy Shriver: A Champion of Change for the Mentally Disabled." Kimber Belk's performance placed seventh in the nation in the category of junior individual performance and Catherine McMillan's documentary placed 10th in the nation.
A number of other North Carolina students placed in the top 14 in their respective categories. Isabel Ward, Aundrea Hutchinson, Grace Welch, Dana Jakubielski, and Ellie Stout of Classical Scholars, Henderson County, placed 10th in the nation for their junior group performance, "Nellie Bly: How the Best Reporter in America Led the Way for Women in Journalism."
Parker Chatham, Taylor Steele, Jenna Crutchfield, and Eliza Watson of Swain County High School finished 11th in the nation for their senior group exhibit, "'Vivi Il Duce!' Mussolini and the Movement of Fascism." The students were also invited to display their exhibit June 17 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The museum displays one NHD exhibit from each state for a day during the national contest.
Juliette Ellis of Saint Mary's School in Wake County was one of just a few dozen NHD students selected to attend the National Endowment for the Humanities' Breakfast on the Hill and to meet with members of Congress. Ellis met with North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr.
"It was an amazing experience," said Phillip Souza of Hickory Grove Christian School of Mecklenburg County. "We loved everything about it and we would love to come again. [I'm] going back to our school and telling everyone to enter next year."
North Carolina teachers were also recognized at the national contest. Each year Patricia Behring sponsors a Teacher of the Year Award, with each state giving the award to one middle school teacher and one high school teacher. North Carolina's winners this year were Yvonne Krowka, of Immaculata Catholic School, Henderson County, and Jennifer Bryan of South Central High School, Pitt County.
For additional information, please call (919) 807-7395. National History Day in North Carolina is administered by the Office of Archives and History in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, with major support from the North Caroliniana Society, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Federation of N.C. Historical Societies.