Contact: Jeff Morgan, Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov, (515) 281-3858

(DES MOINES) – The State Historical Society of Iowa today announced 23 Iowa students qualified for the National History Day national contest June 11-15 at the University of Maryland where they will compete with more than 2,000 students from across the country for cash prizes up to $1,000.

The 23 qualifiers were among 206 Iowa students competing Monday in the senior division (grades 9-12) State History Day Event contest at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. They join 25 Iowa students from last week’s junior division (grades 6-8) State History Day Event who also advanced to the NHD national contest. NHD events include a gala to showcase and celebrate Iowa’s national qualifiers on Friday, May 12 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Teachers, administrators and friends of history are invited. Reservations are $15 per person and can be made by contacting Naomi Peuse at 515-281-6860 or Naomi.Peuse@iowa.gov.

“It has been a very exciting week for our students, parents and teachers,” said Naomi Peuse, the state coordinator for NHD in Iowa. “The amount of work these students put into their projects is remarkable and I encourage anyone interested in education and history to come to the gala to see what they have been working on for most of the academic year.”

Working individually or collaboratively in groups of two to five, NHD students prepare and present research papers, exhibits, documentaries and performances about historical issues, ideas, people and events. The year-long academic-enrichment program fosters their enthusiasm for learning and encourages them to use primary, secondary, community and statewide resources on a subject of their choice related to an annual theme. This year’s theme is “Taking a Stand in History: People, Ideas, Events.”

“NHD teaches skills students need for a successful future,” Peuse said. “Students complete extensive research, analyze and develop historical conclusions, and present their interpretations in a creative form. The program really fosters skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.”

Sarah Frese, one of Iowa’s four national winners last year, said the skills she learned through NHD are helping her adjust to higher academic demands this year as a freshman at Central College in Pella.

“It was great getting to college and knowing how to do research and a bibliography,” she said after serving as a judge for this year’s State History Day events. “I have really enjoyed working with the State History Day staff because there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Serving as a judge at local NHD events was a great experience as I finally had a chance to experience the program from the other side and began to realize all the challenges of assessing NHD projects.”

Frese, a Central soccer player, is studying international relations, political science, history and art, and hopes to pursue a career in international relations. She is considering internships with the United Kingdom Parliament in London, England and the United Nations in Vienna, Austria.

Monday’s special guest speakers, John and Mary Beth Tinker, discussed their landmark Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District.

The Tinkers rose to national prominence in 1965 when they joined three other students to protest the Vietnam War by wearing black arm bands in defiance of school policy. Suspended on disciplinary grounds that were upheld in federal court, the students took their case to the Supreme Court, arguing that they had been denied their right of freedom of expression under the First Amendment. In 1969, the Court ruled in their favor, determining that arm bands did not constitute a sufficient reason to abridge free speech – a decision which helped provide a legal foundation for subsequent anti-war protests.

After speaking to about 600 people in the State Historical Building atrium, John Tinker said he was pleased to be back in Iowa.

“It’s very fulfilling to be back in Des Moines to see students actively interested in history and offer my views on the first amendment and citizen involvement in our democracy,” he said. “Every year I get interviewed about the case by students doing history projects. I usually visit with them by email or on the phone, but it’s nice to visit with them in person. It’s a little role that has been given to me to fulfill, and it’s very satisfying to talk about it.”

NHD in Iowa has been coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa since 1994. Major funding comes from the State Historical Society of Iowa, Inc. of Iowa City, a federal earmark, the American Legion of Iowa Foundation and Cargill. More information about NHD in Iowa is available at www.iowahistory.org or by contacting Naomi Peuse at 515-281-6860 or naomi.peuse@iowa.gov.

The State Historical Society of Iowa is a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy and an advocate for understanding Iowa’s past. It identifies, records, collects, preserves, manages and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources. Its dual mission of preservation and education serves Iowans of all ages, conducts and stimulates research, disseminates information, and encourages and supports historical preservation and education efforts of others throughout the state.

Following are the senior division (grades 9-12) State History Day Event students who qualified for the National History Day national contest.

(Category)

(Student)

(Title of Project)

(School)

(Town)

(Teacher)

Historical Paper

Diane Ferry

The Mercury 13: Taking a Stand for Their Place in Space

North Scott High School

Eldridge, Iowa

Chris Green

Historical Paper

Stephen Frese

From Emancipation to Equality: Alexander Clark’s Stand for Civil Rights in Iowa

Marshalltown High School

Marshalltown, Iowa

Millie Frese

Individual Performance

Chris Parcher

Sugihara

Northwood-Kensett High School

Northwood, Iowa

Deb Nagle

Individual Performance

Justine Scarbrough

Taking a Stand at the Schoolhouse Gate

Storm Lake High School

Storm Lake, Iowa

Mary Scarbrough

Group Performance

Lauren Boersma, Mia Kornelis

The DePriest Tea Incident: Taking A Stand in The White House

Unity Christian High School

Orange City, Iowa

Terry Beimers

Group Performance

Annie Kjar, Jesa Wolthuizen

The Woman Rebel: Margaret Sanger-Taking a Stand by Giving Women a Chance

Akron-Westfield Community Schools

Akron, Iowa

Colleen Westergard

Individual Documentary

Kelly Evans

Ron Ridenhour: Taking a Stand for Justice

Storm Lake High School

Storm Lake, Iowa

Roberta Moore

Individual Documentary

David Morrison

John L. Lewis: Taking a Stand for Workers’ Rights

North Tama High School

Traer, Iowa

Judy Morrison, Roz Stull

Group Documentary

Darren Johnson, Michael Schulz

Henry A. Wallace: Standing Up for Agriculture

Storm Lake High School

Storm Lake, Iowa

Roberta Moore

Group Documentary

Emily Hokinson, Morgan Rodewald

Kent State Massacre

Manson Northwest Webster High School

Manson, Iowa

Jenny Larson

Individual Exhibit

Rachelle Edgar

“…A Persistent Pioneer.” In Africa, Norman Borlaug Stands Against Hunger

Marshalltown High School

Marshalltown, Iowa

Scott Johnson

Individual Exhibit

Christopher Reis

Ding: Making a Point with a Pen

Storm Lake High School

Storm Lake, Iowa

Roberta Moore

Group Exhibit

Alonzo Barkley, Jason Ott, Jordon Pace

Howard Hughes: Foremost Technical Genius

Southeast Webster High School

Burnside, Iowa

Janet Wills

Group Exhibit

Travis Chizek, Jacque Markert, Erryn Warnke, Samantha Weiss

Kent State Riots

Manson Northwest Webster High School

Manson, Iowa

Jenny Larson

Following are senior division (grades 9-12) State History Day Event special award recipients:

(Category)

(Student)

(Title of Project)

(School)

(Town)

(Teacher)

Outstanding Entry Related to Islam or the Arab World

Heather Alvord

Mukhtar Mai: Bravest Woman in the World

Northwood-Kensett High School

Northwood, Iowa

Deb Nagle

Outstanding Entry in African American History

Brad Schooler

Malcolm X: Taking A Stand Through Any Means Necessary

North Scott High School

Eldridge, Iowa

Chris Green

Outstanding Use of Primary Sources

Kathryn Skilton

Breaking the Bonds of Violence: Taking a Stand for Peace in Northern Ireland

Nashua-Plainfield High School

Nashua, Iowa

Suzan Turner, Keith Turner

Camp Silos Award

Stephanie Venenga

Norman Borlaug: Feeding the World

Dike-New Hartford High School

Dike, Iowa

Tonja Nicholson

Outstanding Entry in Military History

Matthew Wettach

William Dewees, Jr. of Valley Forge and the Revolutionary Movement

Mt. Pleasant High School

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

Susan Loescher

Outstanding Use of Newspaper Sources

Jessica Jones, Kylie Ryan

Taking a Stand in a Tennessee Courtroom: The Scopes Trial

North Scott High School

Eldridge, Iowa

Chris Green

The American Perspective Awards

Regina Peterson, Alycia Preston

Herbert Hoover and the Children’s Bill of Rights

Marshalltown High School

Marshalltown, Iowa

Scott Johnson

Outstanding Overall Entry

Elizabeth Bedel, Ashley Scuffham

Fred Korematsu-A Lifelong Fight Against Racial Discrimination

Storm Lake High School

Storm Lake, Iowa

Roberta Moore

Outstanding Entry in Women’s History – First Place

Elyse Lyons

A Life of Choices: Louise Noun Takes a Stand for Women

Central Academy

Des Moines, Iowa

Tom Forsgren

Outstanding Entry in Women’s History – Second Place

Jeralyn Westercamp

On the Winds of Wounded Knee

Kennedy High School

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Deb Snook

Outstanding Entry in Women’s History – Third Place

Hannah Kerling

Alice Paul: One Woman Taking a Radical Stand for All Women

North Scott High School

Eldridge, Iowa

Chris Green

Outstanding Documentary Related to Iowa History

Max Hawkins, Rachel Whitman

Ding Darling: Conservationist

Central Academy

Des Moines, Iowa

Tom Forsgren

Early History Award

Abby Corlew

Jan Hus: The Fight for Sanctification

Alta High School

Alta, Iowa

Kirsten Doebel

Charlene Weaver Social Justice Award

Anup Parikh

Gandhi’s Dandi March: Taking a Stand Against Oppression through Nonviolence

Rivermont Collegiate

Bettendorf, Iowa

Michele Weber

Outstanding Entry Related to Economic Development

Brandon Boul, Mark Eldridge

The Rath packing union: taking a stand for better working conditions

Dunkerton High School

Dunkerton, Iowa

Justin Little

Brooke Walton Memorial Award Outstanding Individual Performance

Justine Scarbrough

Taking a Stand at the Schoolhouse Gate

Storm Lake High School

Storm Lake, Iowa

Mary Scarbrough

The Best of Iowa

Breanna Ellis, Ashley Williamson

Annie Wittenmyer: Fighting a Different Kind of Battle

Johnston Middle School

Johnston, Iowa

Kathy Paul

Kerrey DeVries Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)

David Morrison

John L. Lewis: Taking a Stand for Worker’s Rights

North Tama County High School

Traer, Iowa

Rozella Stull, Judy Morrison

Outstanding Young Historian Scholarship ($2,000)

Stephen Frese

From Emancipation to Equality: Alexander Clark’s Stand for Civil Rights in Iowa

Marshalltown High School

Marshalltown, Iowa

Millie Frese

Kids Count! Award

Iowa Women’s Archives

Teachers selected to attend the NHD national contest with the Iowa delegation on scholarship include Laura Sievers of Sioux Central and Albert City-Truesdale schools, Jeanne Rust of LeMars Middle School and Peggy Beatty of Decorah Middle School.

The NHD in Iowa senior division teacher of the year is Donna Bohlmann of Eddyville-Blakesburg Community School District.

The NHD in Iowa senior division schools of the year are: Storm Lake High School (first place); Marshalltown High School and Manson Northwest Webster High School (second place – tie.).

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