Florida History Fair Students Shine at National History Day Contest

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner is pleased to announce that Florida students excelled at the National History Day (NHD) competition in College Park, Maryland, winning four national awards and earning numerous other recognitions.  Representing the Sunshine State, 64 students and 10 teachers attended the national competition, June 14–18, at the University of Maryland.

 “These young historians spent months conducting extensive research and compiling their findings into a selection of mediums,” said Secretary Detzner. “I’m delighted that their work has been recognized with national awards. These youth exemplify the academic excellence of Florida students statewide.”

 The students’ entries previously won first or second place in May at the Florida History Fair state contest, sponsored by the Museum of Florida History. The middle-and high-school students presented their findings in a historical paper, documentary, performance, exhibit, or website related to the 2014–15 theme, “Leadership and Legacy in History.” More than 53,400 students participated statewide, making Florida one of the largest programs among the 58 National History Day affiliates.

The national contest drew nearly 3,000 students from the 50 states, District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Guatemala, and international schools in Southeast Asia. This year Florida received several top honors.

 Listed below are Florida’s national-level winners by county:

 Santa Rosa County

 2nd Place:  Senior Individual Performance    

Macy Mateer

There’s No Need to be Rude: Lindy Boggs’ Legacy of Leadership

Gulf Breeze High School; Teacher: Grace Freeman

 Manatee County

 Legacy Award: Magna Carta Prize
Hannah Arduini—Junior Historical Paper

Eleanor Roosevelt: The Legacy of Her Leadership in Human Rights
Carlos E. Haile Middle School; Teacher: Thomas Redmon

 Orange County

 Outstanding State Award—Junior Division

Hannah Siegel—Junior Individual Documentary
Leni Riefenstahl: Between Hitler and Hollywood

Lake Highland Preparatory School; Teachers: Lee Pope, Alex Hujik

Sarasota County

 Outstanding State Award—Senior Division

Aria Pegah, Jacob Evans, Zachary Jordan, Austin Rockwood, Aravind Byju—Senior Group Website

Giving Them Hope: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Ongoing Struggle for Equality
Pine View School; Teacher: Patricia Ann Regan

NHD Finalists:

Finalists are students whose entry is among the top fourteen projects in their division and category.

 Bay County

 13th Place: Junior Group Website

Hania Ikram, Shahd Mohamed, Sohila Elamir
Daredevil, Reporter, Feminist: Nellie Bly
Panama City Advanced School; Teacher: Jane Fletcher

Leon County

8th Place: Junior Group Exhibit

Townsend Porcher, Creed King, Kate Powell
The Woman Who Redefined Man: Jane Goodall’s Legacy of Science, Leadership, and Activisim
Fairview Middle School; Teachers: Amice Manuel, Karen Study

Manatee County

 11th Place: Senior Individual Performance

Kaitlin Folsom
John Lennon: Leadership and Legacy through Imagining Peace
State College of Florida Collegiate School; Teachers: LaTonja McNeil-DeCambre,

Lisa Lacey

 14th Place: Senior Group Performance

Zoe Zimmermann, Sara Sutton, Miranda Wolf, Abigail Zion
WASP: Women in WWII
Manatee School for the Arts; Teacher: Teawanna McCaulla

 Orange County

 7th Place: Junior Individual Documentary

Hannah Siegel

Leni Riefenstahl: Between Hitler and Hollywood

Lake Highland Preparatory School; Teachers: Lee Pope, Alex Hujik

 Palm Beach County

 10th Place: Senior Group Exhibit

Alisha Kahn, Alexandra Ramirez
Marie Curie: An Unprecedented Journey
American Heritage School Boca Delray; Teachers: Kristy Mangone, Mindy Greenberg

 St. Johns County

 10th Place: Junior Individual Website

Aidan Mather
Florence Nightingale:  A Leader with a Legacy
Switzerland Point Middle School; Teacher: Megan Miller

 Sarasota County

9th Place: Senior Group Website

Aria Pegah, Jacob Evans, Zachary Jordan, Austin Rockwood, Aravind Byju

Giving Them Hope: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Ongoing Struggle for Equality
Pine View School; Teacher: Patricia Ann Regan

 National Museum of American History

 Macy Mateer of Gulf Breeze High School was selected to present her senior individual performance, There’s No Need to be Rude: Lindy Boggs’ Legacy of Leadership, at a VIP reception at the National Museum of American History on June 17.  Each year only one entry from among all National History Day performance entries is chosen for this honor.

 The senior group exhibit by Bryce Cox and Myles Herren, E-E-E Enter the World of Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense and Horror Cinematography, represented Florida at the National Museum of American History on June 17. Each NHD affiliate selected an exhibit for display during daytime public hours and during a special “National History Night” for NHD participants in the evening.

 A list of state and national winners and Florida History Fair sponsors can be viewed at floridahistoryfair.com.  For more information on National History Day, visit nhd.org.

# # #

 About Florida History Fair:

Florida History Fair is part of National History Day (NHD). NHD was established in 1974 to promote history in the classroom by offering students the means and encouragement to research people, ideas, and events of the past. The 2014–15 theme is "Leadership and Legacy in History.” After analyzing and interpreting the information they have gathered, students express their findings in a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website. More than 60,000 students participated in the 2014–15 Florida History Fair. For more information visit: floridahistoryfair.com.