Secretary Detzner Announces History Fair State Contest

More than 1,000 middle and high school students to compete for state honors in Tallahassee

Tallahassee, Florida –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner today announced that the Florida History Fair state contest will be held on Monday, April 30, 2012. More than 1,000 middle and high school students who won at the county level will compete in Tallahassee for state-level honors. Winners of the state competition will go on to represent Florida at the National History Day contest in College Park, Maryland in June.

“I’m proud of all the students who share their knowledge and creative talents during the history fair through historical papers, websites, exhibits, documentaries and performances,” said Secretary Detzner. “The participation of these students will help them strengthen their critical thinking, research, reading and personal skills. Attendees of the history fair are also sure to learn more about our history.”

Coordinated by the Department of State’s Museum of Florida History, the annual state contest will be held on the campus of Tallahassee Community College at 444 Appleyard Drive in Tallahassee. Working in three-person teams, approximately 200 volunteer judges will evaluate 592 entries to determine the winners. The public is invited to view exhibits, historical papers and web sites on campus in the Lifetime Sports Complex on Monday, April 30, between 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.  The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum at 6800 Mahan Drive.

Florida joins 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Department of Defense Schools in Europe and several international schools in Southeast Asia as affiliates of the National History Day (NHD) Program. The 2011–12 theme, Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History, was selected by the NHD staff. Students must choose a topic relating to the theme and research it using primary and secondary sources. In 2010–11, 44,435 students in grades 6 to 12 participated in 31 counties in Florida. Students from 32 Florida counties will participate in this year’s competition.

The history fair program is sponsored by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, Museum of Florida History, the Friends of the Museums of Florida History, and 30 organizations, businesses and individuals. For a complete listing of sponsors, please go to www.floridahistoryfair.com.

About the Museum of Florida History

Opened in 1977, the Museum of Florida History, managed by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets evidence of past and present cultures in Florida and promotes knowledge and appreciation of this heritage. As the state history museum, it focuses on artifacts and eras unique to Florida's development and on roles that Floridians have played in national and global events. Through exhibits, educational programs, research and collections, the museum reflects the ways that people have shaped and reacted to their cultural and natural environments. The museum is located in the R. A. Gray Building at 500 South Bronough Street in Tallahassee, Florida. Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday and holidays, noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit the museum’s website at www.museumoffloridahistory.com.

History Fair Event Information

Florida History Fair: Exhibit, Historical Paper and Website Viewing
When:            Monday, April 30, 2012, between 3:30 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Where:           Tallahassee Community College
                      444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, Florida

Florida History Fair: Awards Ceremony
When:            Tuesday, May 1, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where:           Tallahassee Antique Car Museum
                      6800 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, Florida