The work of 513 sixth-12th grade students from area schools will be displayed at the 2019 National History Day Regional Contest March 19 in the University Center at Southeast Missouri State University.
This years contest theme is Triumph and Tragedy in History and will feature projects ranging from topics in local, regional, state, national and international history. Participating students haveconducted research and will present their historical interpretations in a variety of formats, including exhibits, documentaries, websites, performances and papers. Example projects include a documentary about suffragist Alice Paul, an exhibit about the life of Vincent Van Gogh and a website about the infamous Spanish influenza outbreak.
Judging will begin at 9 a.m. Exhibits will be open for public viewing from noon to 1 p.m. An awards ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Academic Hall Auditorium.
History Day is a great opportunity for students across 19 southeast Missouri counties to explore historical issues, showcase their work and compete for a spot at the state and national contests, said Dr. Courtney Kisat, coordinator of the History Day Regional Contest and assistant professor of history at Southeast.
History Day provides students the opportunity to think like historians, she said. Students select their topics at the beginning of the school year and work with their teachers to conduct research, then design and create their project. The contest promotes the study of history and gives students the opportunity to present their projects to an audience.
Participating schools are Bernie Middle and High School; Bloomfield Middle and High schools; Cape Girardeau Central Middle, Junior High and High schools; Chaffee Junior High and High schools; Clearwater Middle and High schools; Farmington Middle School; Gideon Elementary;Greenville Junior High; Hayti High School; Marquand Zion K-6 Elementary School; Richland Junior High and High schools; Risco Middle and High schools; St Mary Cathedral Elementary School; St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School; Ste. Genevieve Junior High and High schools; and Thomas W. Kelly High School.
The 2019 National History Day Regional Contest is sponsored by the State Historical Society of Missouri. Winners from regional contests advance to the state National History Day competition at the University of Missouri-Columbia April 27.