![[Masthead]](http://www.lemarssentinel.com/images/nameplate.png)
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Post comment
Share link
Facebook
Twitter
del.icio.us
Digg
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Newsvine
Reddit
Google
 Le Mars Community Middle School students who competed at the National History Day in Iowa competition April 30, are front row (from left) -- Rachel Meredith, Palani Permeswaran, Michael Ahlers, Yashila Permeswaran, and Andy Orton. Back row -- Becca Clay, Rachel Parry, Jennifer Theisen, Will Becker, Chris Eckstaine, and Gabe Rahn. [Click to enlarge] |
The students projects reflect this year's theme, "Triumph and Tragedy in History."
Their categories and projects are:
Historical Papers:
Palani Permeswaran - "Henry Agard Wallace: A Triumphant Life Turned Tragic"
Yashila Permeswaran - "Overcoming Personal Tragedy to Help Others Triumph."
Individual exhibits:
Rachel Meredith - "Flying High and Clipped Wings: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots"
Individual documentaries:
Michael Ahlers - "The American Economy: The Triumph of the 1920s, the Tragedy of the 1930s, and the New Deal Legislation."
This year, websites were added as a presentation category, and Iowa piloted the website category which will be in full use at the national level next year, explained Jeanne Rust, Talented and Gifted coordinator for the students. Students who competed in this year's website category at state could not advance to nationals since there will be no nationals level website category until 2008. However, websites were judged at state and the top two websites were honored.
LCMS student Andy Orton's website, "Marie Curie: The Triumph and Tragedy of Radioactivity," was named one of the top two websites at state.
"If there had been a nationals category for him to advance to, we have have had five projects at nationals," said Rust.
Based on the number of projects from Le Mars Community Middle School which advanced to nationals, LCMS was honored as Iowa's 2007 History Day School of the Year, with four of the state's 14 projects which advanced to nationals.
Two other students received recognition for their projects.
Gabe Rahn's individual exhibit, "The USS Indianapolis: The Trumph and Tragedy of the Navy's Greatest Sea Disaster" advanced to the finals round and was one of the top eight projects considered for nationals competition.
Will Becker's individual exhibit, "June 4: Tragedy at Tiananmen Square," received an award from Graceland University for outstanding use of primary resources.
Three other projects also were judged at the state competition. They are: Jennifer Theisen in Individual documentary, "The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: Tragic Deaths Lead to Labor Triumph;" Group Exhibit by Becca Clay and Rachel Parry, "McDonald's: Triumph and Tragedy of a Fast Food Empire;" and Chris Eckstaine in the website category, "D-Day: The Beginning of the End."
"I really appreciate the support I receive for the National History program from others at school," said Rust. "There are a number of teachers who judge at the local show, and I have received great administrative support at all levels."
"This year I was able to purchase more technological tools for the students to use. There are also a number of really supportive parents who recognize the importance of the skills the students develop as they create their projects," Rust said. She noted several parents of past National History Day students continue to volunteer their time by evaluating projects at the local show.
This year, 51 Le Mars Community Middle School students originally presented their projects at the district level at Northwest AEA in Sioux City on March 9. The students also presented their projects at the Le Mars Middle School local show on Feb. 15.
"Students have selected their topics which fit the annual theme by Nov. 1," Rust said. This year's theme was "Triumph and Tragedy in History." Next year's theme is "Conflict and Compromise in History." Some students are already looking for their topics for next year.