FSCC to host National History Day District 2 competition

Young people from all across Southeast Kansas will celebrate notable portions of the state's history this spring in Fort Scott.

Fort Scott Community College will once again host the fifth annual History Day celebration and District 2 competition March 1 on the FSCC campus, 2108 S. Horton St.

The district contest, which is sponsored by the Kansas State Historical Society, will be open to all area high school and middle school students, and will include 6th through 12th grade students from schools in 15 other District 2 counties in Southeast Kansas. Students who participate in the event have used critical thinking skills to research and design a variety of projects that highlight certain periods in Kansas history. Eight other districts across the state will each host its own regional competition.

The nationwide history education program offers teachers practical models for integrating history standards in the classroom, a statement from the organization said.

The theme for this year's contest is "Conflict and Compromise in History," officials said.

"It's a tremendous theme that I think fits Kansas and Fort Scott very well," Kansas History Day District 2 Coordinator John Seal said.

Seal, a history instructor at FSCC, said event organizers have not yet determined how many total entries will be featured in the district competition this year, primarily because participants have until Feb. 14 to submit entries. Planners will have a better idea at that time of the number of entrants in the contest, Seal said.

Seal added that while the number of entries last year was modest, he would like to see twice as many entries this year.

"We had 48 entries last year, which was good," he said. "We really don't know what to expect this year."

First and second place winners in each district will go on to compete at Kansas History Day, which is scheduled to take place April 26 in Topeka. During state competition, participants will have the chance to celebrate, explore, and exhibit parts of Kansas history. First and second place winners at the state contest then move on to compete at the National History Day contest in mid-June in College Park, Md.

Entries are evaluated by judges who are professional historians, educators, or experienced in other ways with the History Day program.

There are five different categories that students can enter during the district contest in March, including documentaries, papers, exhibits, performances, and Websites; the latter of which is the newest category in the competition. In this category, students are able to design their own Web-based history project that the entire public may view, Seal said.

Seal added that he is hoping to see many outstanding history projects during the contest this year.

"The students use the Internet as a tool for history," he said. "A lot of it (history) is already online today. The (Website) category is one of the most challenging because the history out there is unlimited. There are several categories, including World War II and Bleeding Kansas. I expect some good things this year."

The deadline to submit paper and Website entries is Feb. 22, according to the Kansas State Historical Society Website at www.kshs.org. Students will be charged a $5 fee for each entry submitted, with all proceeds benefiting the FSCC History Club, the site said.

Registration for the March 1 event will begin at 7:45 a.m. that day, with most of the competitions starting at about 9:30 a.m. Event results and awards will be presented at 1 p.m. in the FSCC Round Room. Area middle school and high school students who are interested in participating in the event should speak with their history instructor, officials said. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Seal at (620) 223-2700, extension 320.