Sibling duo takes first at history competition

While many actors and actresses long to make it to

Broadway or Hollywood, two groups of local thespians

and one writer only wish to make it to Maryland

this summer.

Groups of students from Fort Scott High School

and Fort Scott Christian Heights competed and

placed on Saturday, in the 2008 Kansas State History

Day competition at Washburn University in Topeka,

Kan. The three local groups, which placed in the

event, earned passage to the National History Day

celebration, which will be conducted in June at the

University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.

The FSHS acting duo, Reanda Mims and Kai

Mims, secured first place in the senior group performances

at the state competition. The two high

school students performed a theatrical piece about

Frederick Douglass, an American abolitionist, editor,

orator, author, statesman and reformer.

Kai said that getting ready for the state competition

required him and his sister to sacrifice a lot of

time practicing their performance and researching

events in Douglass' life. Adding, that taking home

first place made the sacrifice worth it. He said that he

thinks it was their research and devotion to the project

that helped them secure the no. 1 spot.

According to Reanda, the fact that she and her

brother have a close relationship also helped them to

perform to the best of their abilities. She said that

they were able to work with each other very well

because of their closeness.

Fort Scott Christian Heights student Faith Davolt

competed at the State level in the junior division with

her written composition about the Salem Witch Trials.

She said that she had read a book about the Salem

Witch Trials. The topic intrigued her, and she decided

to learn as much as she could about it. After three

judges read Davolt's paper, they offered Davolt some

suggestions as to how to make her paper better. They

also spent time asking her questions about her project

to ensure that her project had been well-researched.

Since she was awarded second place in the competition,

Davolt said she will use some of the judges' suggestions

in order to prepare for the national competition

this summer. Davolt said that the experience

made her more confident in her writing and interviewing

skills.

Three other Fort Scott Christian Heights students

jumped into the second place slot for their junior performance

skit on Saturday. Theresa Schafer, Elizabeth

Wallace and David Cox, reenacted scene's from

the life of Bronia Roslawowski, a holocaust survivor.

Schafer said that she is excited about competing

at the national level because it will give her and her

team members a chance to tell Roslawowski's story

to even more people.

Wallace said the three judges, who critiqued the

group of thespians from FSCH, were very pleased

with their performance. She said they were told by

the judges that there really wasn't a lot the group

could have done differently. However, she said that

the judges did encourage them to learn more about

the holocaust before the next competition.

Schafer said that the judges specifically liked the

timing of the local group's play and also their usage

of music in the skit.

The acting group from FSCH was privileged to

have Roslawowski attend the event and witness the

trio's interpretation of scenes from her life. According

to Cox, Roslawowski was very pleased with the

students' performance. Fort Scott Christian Heights

teacher Karen Schellack added that Roslawowski

was very happy to have the students tell her story.

Each of the local students who have earned their

way to Maryland this summer, said that he or she was

very excited about the upcoming trip. Since several

of the students have never been to Washington D.C., they are excited about the trip because the university they will be performing at sits close to the

nation's capital.

A group of students from Fort Scott Middle School and students from Uniontown Junior and Senior High Schools also participated in the state history day. Although the local students competed against 52 other

Kansas schools and earned their places to compete in the national

competition, some of the students may not be able to make the journey this summer due to lack of funds.

Anyone wishing to donate funds to help the students make the trip to nationals this summer can contact FSCH at (620) 223-4330 or FSHS at (620) 223-0600.