College hosting history contest Saturday

Fort Scott Community College will host the annual Kansas History Day District 2 competition Saturday on the FSCC campus, 2108 S. Horton St.

The sixth annual contest, which is sponsored by the Kansas State Historical Society, is open to all area high school and middle school students, and includes students from schools in 15 other District 2 counties in Southeast Kansas. The theme for this year's contest is "The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies."

John Seal, a history instructor at FSCC and the coordinator for the event, said he was pleased with the total number of entries, including the number of local entries that event organizers received for the contest this year.

"Thirty-three of the 53 entries are local," he said. "We expected it (entries) to be down because of budget concerns and things like that. We're very happy with it. It's (contest) something we love to do here at the college. It's great for us and it's good exposure."

Seal said the 33 local entries are projects created by students at Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Christian Heights, a local private school.

According to a statement from FSCC, Kansas History Day is a day to celebrate, explore, and exhibit the state's history. Students can choose between five categories to compete in, including documentaries, papers, exhibits, performances, and Web sites. Projects can be researched and done individually or as a group, and are then presented to professional judges during the competition. The number of entries that organizers receive in each category varies each year, Seal said.

Seal said organizers did not receive any entries last year in the Web site category -- a new category last year that gave students a chance to design their own Internet-based history project for viewing by the public -- but have received some entries in that category this year.

Students who participate in the contest have used critical thinking skills to research and design a variety of projects that highlight notable periods in Kansas history. Eight other districts across the state will each host its own regional competition. Seal added that he is hoping to see many outstanding history projects during the contest this year.

"I think there will be some competitive things this year," he said. "Boy, it ought to be great. I'm looking forward to it."

Seal said participating in the contests can be an asset to a student in many ways.

"To be a participant in National History Day is an honor, and it requires some work and work ethic," he said. "And it looks good on a resumé."

First and second place winners of each district contest will go on to compete at Kansas History Day, which is scheduled to take place April 25 at Washburn University in Topeka. First and second place winners at the state contest then move on to compete at the National History Day competition June 14-18 in College Park, Md.

Students who participate in the regional contest are charged a $10 fee per entry per person, with all proceeds benefiting the FSCC History Club. Entry fees are used to help plan and conduct the event each year, Seal said.

"The proceeds help us run it," he said. "We feed the kids, and provide them with awards."

Registration for the event will take place following a judges briefing from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the commons area of the FSCC Academic Building. Following a welcome message from Seal and FSCC President Clayton Tatro, exhibits and projects will be set up and then judged between 9 a.m. and noon. Lunch will be provided for attendees between 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Results of the competition and an awards ceremony will conclude the day's activities between 1 and 2 p.m. in the FSCC Academic Building Round Rooms.

The event is free of charge and open to the public.