Indianapolis—Indiana students again excelled at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest, with four of their projects making the finals of their respective categories—including one medalist. A contingent of 60 Hoosier students participated in the national competition, which took place at University of Maryland June 15-19.
Top Finishes from Indiana students included:
3rd Place (medalist), Junior Group Documentary
Braden Huffman, Cameron Kanczuzewski, Madelyn Kanczuzewski, Patrice Serianni and Catherine Serianni; Around the Bend Production Co. (South Bend); “Heroes of the Sawdust: The Great Circus Tragedy of 1918”
Outstanding State Entry (Junior Division) and 7th Place, Junior Individual Website
Thomas Mikula; St. Anthony De Padua (South Bend); “We Liberated Birmingham – Children’s March of 1963”
Outstanding State Entry (Senior Division) and 9th Place, Senior Individual Website
Stephan Stoykov, North Central High School – “Winners and Losers: Rights and Responsibilities During the Civil Rights Era”
13th Place, Senior Individual Documentary
Elizabeth Collier; Brown County High School; “A Right to Us All: The L.A. Zoot Suit Riots of 1943”
Students who made the trip also had a chance to spend time in Washington, D.C., meeting both of Indiana’s senators and seeing the sights of the nation’s capital. They also enjoyed National History Night at the National Museum of American history on Wednesday evening, when Abby Fisher, Tredha Hunter and Sarah Von Hoene of Columbus North High School had a chance to display their Senior Group Exhibit – “Rights and Responsibilities of the TVA: A New Dam Deal.”
National History Day in Indiana is a year-long program dedicated to enhancing history education in elementary and secondary schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject and then use their research to create imaginative exhibits, original performances, media documentaries, websites and papers. The 2014 theme was “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”
IHS has organized Indiana’s participation in the National History Day program for more than a decade, and more than 4,800 students from across the state participated in 2014. For more information on National History Day in Indiana and other IHS programs, call (317) 232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.
About the Indiana Historical Society
Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor exhibitions called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups, publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; produces and hosts art exhibitions, museum theater and outside performance groups; and provides youth, adult and family programming. Normal operating hours for the History Center and the Indiana Experience are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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