Pennsylvania Participation in national History Day 2016

In June, fifty-six Pennsylvania students competed in the National History Day contest held at the University of Maryland, College Park. The students who placed in the top ten nationally in their category are listed below, followed by the top three winners in each category at the state competition in May at Millersville University. Students win the right to compete nationally by placing in the top two at the Pennsylvania contest.

Our congratulations to the students, their teachers and their schools!

National History Day (NHD) is a nonprofit education organization in College Park, MD. Established in 1974, NHD offers year-long academic programs that engage over half a million middle and high school students around the world annually in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. http://nhd.org

For more information on the Pennsylvania and regional competition go to http://pa.nhd.org. Judges are key to the success of the National History Day program. If interested in participating, contact Jeff Hawks, NHD in PA Coordinator, at eddirector@armyheritage.org; 717-258-1102.

National history day 2016 winners from pennsylvania

Held in College Park, MD, June 13–16, 2016

Note: Number is placement in the top ten.

Junior Group Documentary

Kenneth Boggess, Mathew Iozzi, and Marie Fourakis, Fugett Middle School, West Chester Area School District, West Chester, PA; teacher: Doug McGillivray; seventh place

Nixon and China

Junior Individual Performance

Megan Mwaura, St. Margaret Mary School, Diocese of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA; teachers: James Collins and Mary Jo Pronio; sixth place

Women’s Suffrage Movement: Carrie Chapman Catt Explores Women’s Rights

Also winner of the Equality in History special prize

Zachary Yaninek, Good Shepherd, Diocese of Harrisburg, Camp Hill, PA; teacher: Jennifer McKenzie; seventh place

Milton Hershey’s Sweet Discovery

Senior Individual Exhibit

Michaila Peters, Cambridge Springs High School, Penncrest School District, Cambridge Springs, PA; teachers: John Werkmeister and Sarah Thompson; third place

Breaking Biological Boundaries: Rosalind Franklin and the Experimental Foundation of the Double Helix Theory

Senior Paper

Isabelle Schroeder, St. Joseph High School, Diocese of Pittsburgh, Natrona Heights, PA; teacher: Rosanne Pucciarelli; tenth place

Lincoln’s “Lost” Legacy: Encountering Human Suffering, Exploring Innovative Solutions, and Exchanging Historical Treasures at the NMHM

National history day in pennsylvania 2016 (state winners)

Held at Millersville University May 10–11, 2016

Note: First and second place moved on to Nationals.

Junior paper

First Place: Vanessa Abraham, Eagle View Middle School, Cumberland Valley School District, Mechanicsburg, PA; teacher: Stacey Maus

The Paxton Boys: Exploring Issues, Encountering Opposition, and Exchanging Media

Second Place: Jacob Roth, Springhouse Middle School, Parkland School District, Allentown, PA; teacher: Joshua Abrams

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats: Exploring the Use of Radio to Convey Information to the American People

Third Place: Katie Haefner, St. Anne School, Diocese of Harrisburg, Lancaster PA; teacher: William Traphagen

Penicillin: The Exploration of a Chance Discovery and its Role with the Encounters and Exchanges during World War II

Junior individual exhibit

First Place: Tyler Thompson, Good Hope Middle School, Cumberland Valley School District, Mechanicsburg, PA; teacher: Brian Healey

Lewis and Clark

Second Place: Madison Shrump, Belle Vernon Area Middle School, Belle Vernon Area School District, Belle Vernon, PA; teacher: Ross Farmer

Encounter at the Crossroads: An Exploration of the Roots of Rock-n-Roll

Third Place: Julia Welp, Eyer Middle School, East Penn School District, Macungie, PA; teacher: Marlo Smurda

Exploring Shenandoah: Encounters and Exchanges with Mountain Families

Junior group exhibit

First Place: Kathryn McNamara and Katelyn Murawski, Holy Name of Jesus School, Diocese of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA; teachers: Christine Zeglen and Nancy Staffaroni

Gentlemen, This is NO Humbug: The Exploration of Anesthesia

Second Place: Henry Meyers and Isabelle Meyers, Peters Township Middle School, Peters Township School District, McMurray, PA; teacher: Josh Elders

Exploring New Techniques in Oil Extraction, The Drake Oil Well: The First of Its Kind

Third Place: Maya Halma and Arti Dhareshwar, Springhouse Middle School, Parkland School District, Allentown, PA; teacher: Joshua Abrams

Rosalie Edge: Activist, Pioneer, Conservationist

Junior individual performance

First Place: Megan Mwaura, St. Margaret Mary School, Diocese of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA; teacher: James Collins

The Women’s Suffrage Movement: Carrie Chapman...