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Nineteen Fort Scott students are headed to State History Day
Following Saturday's District History Day Championships, 29 students will be moving on to the State History Day competition in Topeka. Of the 29 moving on, 19 come from Fort Scott schools.
History Day encourages students to express their knowledge and interest in history through creative and original dramatic performances, media presentations, historical papers, three-dimensional exhibit projects, or Web site production. The in-depth research and study for the district, state and national competition goes throughout the entire school year. Each year has a theme, with the 2010 theme being, "Innovations in History: Impact and Change."
Fort Scott led all areas with District History Champions. Marcus Page and Patricia Schafer from Fort Scott Christian Heights received first place in Senior Group Performance. Their project title is, "Camera Trails in Africa: Martin and Osa's Innovation." Their performance is based on the travels of Martin and Osa Johnson from Chanute. They received help from their teacher Maria Bahr.
From Fort Scott High School, Keenan Gregory, Megan Midkiff, and Kaitlyn Russell received second place in Senior Group Performance. "Edison Cylinder to iPod: John Lomax and the American Sound," is the title of their performance; the project is based on the work of John Lomax in the 1930's. He went into the field to record the "people's music." Megan Felt, program director at the Lowell Milken Center, is their coach.
First place in Senior Individual Performance was awarded to Theresa Schafer, a sophomore at FSCH. The title of her project is, "Amos Bronson: Inventor of Ideas." She has developed a performance about Amos Bronson Alcott and his beliefs for public schools. Her teacher is Maria Bahr.
"From Suffering to Suffragette," received first place in Junior Group Performance. This play was written and performed by Mary Fischer and Rebecca Young from Christian Learning Center. They share the life of Emily Newell Blair, a suffragette, from Carthage, Mo. Their coach is Gloria Fischer.
Jared Bahr from FSCH entered in Senior Individual Web site and received first place. His project titled "The Forgotten Man" describes Andrew Higgins who invented the boat that landed the D-day troops from the 1st Infantry Division directly onto the sandy beaches of Normandy. Maria Bahr is his teacher.
Elizabeth Hall and Madyson McColm of FSCH received first place in the Junior Exhibit category. The title of their project is, "Thirteen Cokes, Twelve Students, and One History Teacher: Innovation in the Civil Rights Movement." They discovered the story of Clara Luper of Oklahoma City, Okla. She and her students started the sit-in movement two years before the Greensboro sit-ins. Karen Schellack is their teacher.
First place in Senior Documentary went to Christian Learning Center students Joseph Fischer, Madelyn Stark, and Haley Davis. Their project titled "The Rats Say Yes" focuses on Robert R. Williams who was responsible for the isolation synthesis and enriching foods with thiamine to eliminate beriberi disease. Their coaches are Gloria Fischer and Aaron Zustiak.
"E.W. Caldwell: Rays of Hope," was created by Noah Fischer, Lauren Stark, Shelby Hutchinson, and Marley Davis from CLC. They received first place in Junior Documentary with their project on E.W. Caldwell's work in x-ray technology. Their coaches are Gloria Fischer and Aaron Zustiak.
Alexis Overton of CLC received first place in Junior Historical Paper. The title of her project is, "Aspirin: The Wonder Drug," and focuses on how Aspirin is a non-prescription drug that has been available since 460 B.C. Her coach is Rebecca Mayer.
These students will be moving on to The Kansas History Day championships on April 17 at Washburn University. Over 800,000 students compete in National History Day, with the national championships held in College Park, Maryland during the month of June. The first and second place winners of the District competition go on to the Kansas State championships, then first and second place winners at the state competition go on to nationals.
The Lowell Milken Education Center worked with all local students. To get more information on the student's projects, visit the Lowell Milken Education Center Web site, www.lowellmilkencenter.org, and click on current projects.
Their Thoughts
Theresa Schafer, FSCH sophomore -- "I have learned that there are many unsung heroes whose stories need to be discovered and told. My goal in History Day is to let the world know about the amazing innovations of these people and how they affect our everyday life."
Madyson McColm, FSCH eighth grader -- "From this project, I improved my research and interviewing skills. This project has helped further my knowledge in history and helped me prepare for college and my future career."
Patricia Schafer, FSCH senior -- "History Day has been an amazing experience. Through our project, I have met people who have brought Martin and Osa Johnson's story to life for me."
Jared Bahr, FSCH junior -- "I have learned more about World War II and A.J. Higgins in one setting that I could anywhere otherwise. The project has taught me useful skills that I am thankful to have."
Marcus Page, FSCH junior -- "Through History Day I have had not only an amazing opportunity to learn about the exciting story of the Johnson couple, Martin and Osa, but also their innovative use of photography and film."
Elisabeth Hall, FSCH eighth grader -- "I learned the power of how one person can make a difference."
Megan Midkiff, FSHS, junior -- "History Day has allowed us to meet and collaborate with kids from other schools in an interesting environment."
Kaitlyn Russell, FSHS junior -- "History Day has challenged us to look deep into our history to discover how we've arrived where we are."
Keenan Gregory, FSHS junior -- "History Day fosters curiosity and promotes cultural diversity."
Haley Davis, CLC senior-- "History Day was a great experience which taught me many valuable skills."
Rebecca Young, CLC eighth grader -- "History Day was a new and exciting experience. We learned a lot and had even more fun."
Marley Davis, CLC sixth grader -- "We learned to work well as a team."
Alexis Overton, CLC sixth grader -- "I learned a lot about aspirin and I also love history."
Lauren Stark, CLC sixth grader -- "We learned how to do oral history interviews."
Noah Fischer, CLC sixth grader -- "We learned hot to make a good documentary."
Madelyn Stark, CLC freshman -- "I learned how important vitamins really are. It was a lot of fun."