KEARNEY – Over 200 middle and high school students competed at the annual Central Nebraska History Day at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Students presented projects based on the theme “Taking a Stand in History” on campus on March 8.
“The projects are incredibly varied,” said James Rohrer, associate professor of history and the district History Day coordinator. “It is great to see the imagination, hard work and learning that has gone into this event.”
Schools participating in the event were Cozad, Lexington, McCook, Loup County, Arcadia, Arapahoe, Ainsworth, and St. Mary’s Catholic in O’Neill.
Students competed in individual or group competitions in categories such as documentary film, interpretive websites, poster exhibits and individual research papers. Judges were university faculty and staff and volunteers from the community.
Winning projects had to clearly showcase the theme and show accuracy of facts, breadth of research and clarity of presentation.
Students who place at the district level can compete in the Nebraska State History Day contest in Lincoln on April 8.
History Day is a national educational program aimed at giving students the opportunity to pursue historical research on a chosen theme, and use their creativity in developing competitive projects based on their research.
History Day is sponsored by the UNK Department of History.
Winners of the Central Nebraska History Day were:
Jr. Individual Performance
First – Natalia Makarova – Dakota Stutzman of Ainsworth
Second – Rosa parks, Cultural Force – Abby Steffen of St. Mary’s O’Neill
Sr. Individual Performance
First – Hussein’s Iraq vs. United Nations – Maggie Weatherwax of Arapahoe
Sr. Group Performance
First – Standing for Native American Equality – Jalynn Huerta, Cameron Vollmer, Evan Neban, Isabella Sifuentes, Brooke Speer of Lexington
Second – Marry or Nary: Taking a Stand against Marriage – Adrienne Einspahr, Alayna Whipple, Andrei Muresan, Nikita Sadok, Tyler Kapperman of Arapahoe
Sr. Individual Exhibit
First – Claudette Colvin – Hollie Sell of Arcadia
Second – USA for Africa – Faith Kozisek of St. Mary’s O’Neill
Third – Muhammad Ali: Taking a Stand against the Vietnam War – Whitney Steckel of Loup County
Alternate – Muhammad Ali & His Stand Against the Vietnam War – Trevon Calleroz of Arcadia
Sr. Group Exhibit
First – William Wilberforce: Taking a Stand Against Slavery – Ethan Allen, Paul Sandoz of Loup County
Second – Odette Sansom – Codi Fehringer, Ansley Kramer of St. Mary’s O’Neill
Third – Sybil Ludington Revolutionary War Heroine – Sarah Leuck, Katrina Kay Gould of Arcadia
Alternate – Ayatollah Khomeini for an Islamic Republic – Tanner Deisley, Tanner DeVoogd of Arapahoe
Jr. Individual Exhibit
First – Hannah Senesh’s Stand for Jews – Savannah Holmes of Ainsworth
Second – The Trevor Project – Michell Plazas of Lexington Middle School
Third – Newborns in Need – Addison Sund of Lexington Middle School
Jr. Group Exhibit
First – Heroes of the Holocaust – Megan Hodgson, Hayden Johnson of McCook
Second – Ida B. Wells – Shayli Wilkinson, Hayden Johnson of McCook
Third – Taking a Stand Through Music – Lexi Hauxwell, Olivia Koetter of McCook
Alternate – Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Dean Schroder, Abby Allen of Loup County
Jr. Individual Documentary
First – I Have a Dream – Kara Houlden of Lexington Middle School
Jr. Group Documentary
First – Nat Turner, Slave Rebellion – Tayler Chytka, Allyson Shotkoski of Cozad
Second – A Stand in History By Sitting – Saidi Rutten, Zoey Salem of Lexington Middle School
Third – Ghengis Khan – Ethan Mins, Korey Decker, Thomas Hakonson of Lexington Middle School
Jr. Individual Website
First – Save Boyd County – Ally Conroy of Ainsworth
Second – Winston Churchill – Noah Storjohann of St. Mary’s O’Neill
Jr. Group Website
First – Clara Lemlich – Maren Arens, Maia Flynn of Ainsworth
Second – The Brutal Murder of a Roman Ruler – Baylor Winters, Sean Griffin, Conor Doherty of McCook
Third – Taking a Stand for Equal Rights – Collin Doak, Tyler Kinne, Logan Farr of McCook
Sr. Individual Website
First – Dr. William House – Decemberlyn Kilcoin of St. Mary’s O’Neill
Second – Taking a Stand for the French Revolution – Gavin Nelson of Arapahoe
Third – Taking a Stand: John F. Kennedy – Lawson Hofer of St. Mary’s O’Neill
Sr. Group Website
First – Taking a Stand for Religious Freedom – Shannon Breinig, Spencer Watson, Noah Koller, Jacob Pruitt of Arapahoe
Second – Earning the Right to Sweat: A Movement in Women’s Sports – Megan Burkholder, Haley Cargill, Abigail Nelsen, Kitelyn Calhoun, Hailey Wilson of Cozad
Third – Taking a Stand for Human Rights – Laine DeVries, Anthony Meyers of Arapahoe
Jr. Research Paper
First – Women in the Olympics – Aubree Eldridge of Cozad
Sr. Research Paper
First – Madres of Plaza de Mayo: Standing for the Disappeared – Kimberly Gomez of Lexington High School
Second – Dolores Huerta – Micaela Lopez of Lexington HS
Third – Jesse Owens: Running from Racism – Jalen Starks of Lexington High School
Alternate – Black Panthers: The Stand Behind Their Berets – Erick Estrada of Lexington High School
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