| Contact:
Jeff Morgan, Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov,
(515) 281-3858
(DES
MOINES) – More than 500 Iowa students
will converge at the State Historical Building Monday
and May 7 to compete in the National History Day state
competition, with a trip to the national competition
at the University of Maryland and college scholarships
on the line.
National History Day is an exciting academic-enrichment
program that helps students learn about historical
issues, ideas, people and events. 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. The theme for 2007 is
“Triumph & Tragedy in History.”
“Nearly every year, we have more than 3,500
students competing in district competitions, with
about 500 to 600 of them moving on to Des Moines for
the state contest,” said Naomi Peuse, the state
coordinator for National History Day in Iowa. “From
that pool, 50 to 60 will be selected to attend the
national event in June at the University of Maryland.”
Working individually or collaboratively in groups
of two to five, students compete in a variety of categories,
including papers, web sites, individual exhibits,
group exhibits, individual documentaries, group documentaries,
individual performances and group performances. Students
in grades 6-8 compete in the junior division while
students in grades 9-12 compete in the senior division.
Students in grades 4 and 5 may participate in the
noncompetitive Iowa Youth Division.
The junior division state finals are scheduled for
Monday and the senior division state finals will be
May 7 at the State Historical Building in Des Moines.
State winners earn the right to compete at the national
finals June 10-14 at the University of Maryland, with
cash prizes up to $1,000 at stake.
Last year, Stephen Frese of Marshalltown received
the Grand Prize at the National History Day 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 to 9 p.m. Friday, 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 National History Day in Iowa program has been
coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa
since 1994. Major funding comes from the State Historical
Society, Inc., of Iowa City, and the American Legion
of Iowa Foundation.
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.
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