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

(DES MOINES) – Twenty-one Iowa students won National History Day in Iowa competitions this week and advanced to the National Finals June 10-14 at the University of Maryland.

The 21 national qualifiers were among 184 Iowa students competing Monday in the senior division (grades 9-12) National History in Iowa contest at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. They join 24 Iowa students from last week’s junior division (grades 6-8) National History Day in Iowa contest who also advanced to the NHD national contest

National History Day is an exciting academic-enrichment program that helps students learn about historical issues, ideas, people and events. Working individually or collaboratively in groups of two to five, students compete in a variety of categories including papers, individual exhibits, group exhibits, individual documentaries, group documentaries, individual performances, group performances and websites.

The year-long academic adventure fosters students’ 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 “Triumph & Tragedy in History.”

Last year, Stephen Frese of Marshalltown received the Grand Prize at the NHD awards ceremony – a four-year, full tuition scholarship to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio valued at more than $100,000. Eight more Iowa students earned additional honors.

In addition, NHD events in Iowa will include a gala 5:30-9 p.m. May 18 at the State Historical Building. 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.

The NHD in Iowa program has been coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa since 1994 and is sponsored by the State Historical Society of Iowa, State Historical Society, Inc., American Legion of Iowa Foundations, Oberman-Beck Foundation and the Polk County Historical Society.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions, the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. The DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.

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) National History Day in Iowa students who qualified for the National History Day national contest. Students designated as alternates will compete in the national contest only if a national qualifier is unable to attend.

(Category)
(Student)
(Title of Project)
(Teacher)
(School)
(Town)

Senior Historical Paper

Stephen Frese
From Liberation to Genocide: The Khmer Rouge Devastation of Cambodia
Millie Frese
Marshalltown High School
Marshalltown, Iowa

Diane Ferry
“We Lead, Others Follow” Buxton Iowa: Its Triumph over Racial Inequality
Chris Green
North Scott High School
Eldridge, Iowa

Alternate: Paul Collier
The Triumphs and Tragedies of Stalin’s First Five Year Plan: The Soviet Union, 1928-1933
Diane Green, Linda Litterer
Fort Madison High School
Fort Madison, Iowa

Senior Individual Exhibit

Justine Jackovich
Billie Holiday: Triumphing Over Social Tragedies by Singing the Blues
Chris Green
North Scott High School
Eldridge, Iowa

Melissa Hassman
The Orphan Trains: Transporting Children to Triumph of Tragedy
Tim Johnson
Marshalltown High School
Marshalltown, Iowa

Alternate: Patrick Fink
George Washington Carver: Overcoming Discrimination to Enhance Agriculture
Susan Fritzell
Marshalltown High School
Marshalltown, Iowa

Senior Group Exhibit

Patrick Swanson, Matt Wolf
Trails, Rails and War: Tragedies and Triumphs of General Grenville M. Dodge
Chris Green
North Scott High School
Eldridge, Iowa

Travis Chizek, Erryn Warnke, Samantha Weiss
Jack Trice: The Triumph of a Fallen Hero
Jenny Larson
Manson Northwest Webster High School
Manson, Iowa

Alternate: Kellie Proctor, Emily von Qualen
Giving the Gift of Life: Turning Tragedy into Triumph
Kelly Borchers
Carroll High School
Carroll, Iowa

Senior Individual Documentary

Christopher Reis
Apollo 13: A Successful Failure
Korey Cantrell
Storm Lake High School
Storm Lake, Iowa

Erica Kjar
Howard Hugher The Aviator: A Lifetime of Triumph and Tragedy
Colleen Westergard
Akron-Westfield Community School
Akron, Iowa

Alternate: Lael Johnson
Triumphant Victory at Tragic Cost: D-Day June 6, 1944
Justin Little
Dunkerton High School
Dunkerton, Iowa

Senior Group Documentary

Beau Dexter, Gabriella Green
Herbert Hoover and the Triumph of Emergency Management in a Tragedy: The 1927 Mississippi Rive FloodChris Green
North Scott High School
Eldridge, Iowa

Max Hawkins, Hane Hommerding
Reinhard Heydrich: Assassination
Tom Forsgren
Central Academy
Des Moines, Iowa

Alternate: Kelly Evans, Kristi Davis
The 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre: Triumph or Tragedy?
Korey Cantrell
Storm Lake High School
Storm Lake, Iowa

Senior Individual Performance

Emma Kelley
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: Women’s Triumph during a Time of Tragedy
Janet Wills
Southeast-Webster High School
Burnside, Iowa

Chris Parcher
The Poor Knights
Deb Nagle
Northwood-Kensett High School
Northwood, Iowa

Alternate: Aaron Viner
Lou Gehrig: Luckiest Man Alive
Chris Green
North Scott High School
Eldridge, Iowa

Senior Group Performance

Amelia Browning, Caitlin Hillyard
Something Good, Something Sad: The Legend of the Cherry Sisters
Tom Forsgren
Central Academy
Des Moines, Iowa

Annie Kjar, Jesa Wolthuizen
Triumph Over the Troubles: Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan, Bringing Peace to a Country Lost in Tragedy
Valorie Philips, Colleen Westergard
Akron-Westfield High School
Akron, Iowa

Alternate: Clare Boerigter, Megan Cottter, Indigo Scott
Miracle of Monster
Sally Thorson
Waverly-Shell Rock High School
Waverly, Iowa

Senior Websites (Websites are a non-competitive category in 2007—these students were recognized as the top two in the state, but will not advance)

Tyler Klobassa
Apollo 1
Suzan Turner
Nashua-Plainfield High School
Nashua, Iowa

Ian Schacht
Hindenburg, a Trip to Remember
Deb Nagle
Northwood-Kensett High School
Northwood, Iowa

Senior Division Teacher of the Year: Jenny Larson, Manson-Northwest Webster High School

1st Place School of the Year: North Scott High School (Eldridge)
2nd Place School of the Year: Marshalltown High School
3rd Place School of the Year (tie): Central Academy (Des Moines); Akron-Westfield Community School (Akron)

Obermann-Beck Young Historian Scholarship Winner: Stephen Frese, Marshalltown High School

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