March 28, 2011

NEW HAVEN STUDENTS MAKE HISTORY!

New Haven – Nearly 150 excited students from schools in Killingworth, Meriden, Middlebury, New Haven, North Haven, Oakdale, Southbury, Stonington, and West Haven gathered on Saturday to make the New Haven District History Day Contest one exciting and enlightening competition. The contest took place at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven. Students placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, will be next compete at Connecticut State History Day Contest in Hartford on April 30th.

State Representative Patricia Dillon (92nd District), and State Representative Roland Lemar (96th District) congratulated the winning students during the Awards Ceremony. “It was a great day,” enthused Thomas Thurston, District Coordinator.

Students chose their project topic based on this year’s theme of Debate & Diplomacy: Successes, Failures, Consequences. Project entries covered a myriad of topics, including: the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; the Great Depression; the 1936 Olympics; women’s fashion; and the Constitutional Convention.

Participants conduct historical research and create projects that they present to a team of volunteer judges, comprised of educators, historians, legislators, and other Connecticut citizens. The students present their project in one of five formats, as a: paper; theatrical performance; website; documentary; or an exhibit.

Students work in groups or as individuals. Students in grades 6-8 compete in the junior division, while students in grades 9-12 compete in the senior division.

New Haven is one of the five History Day in Connecticut districts. History Day in Connecticut is one of 53 affiliate programs of the nationally renowned academic program, National History Day (NHD). It is administered by Connecticut’s Old State House and the Connecticut Historical Society. History Day in Connecticut is generously supported by the Connecticut Humanities Council.

For more information, contact Rebecca Taber-Conover at the Old State House. (p) 860-522.6766, ext. 11 (f) 860) 522-2812 (email) Rebecca.taber-conover@cga.ct.gov

Students and teachers can find out more about National History Day by contacting the National History Day office at (301) 314-9739, or by visiting the official website at www.nhd.org.