Washington History Day

Three Senior Projects go to Finals

Matching the junior showing, three senior projects advanced to the finals at the national contest. Congratulations to:

• Bainbridge High School's Luke Jensen and his documentary about Charles Wilkes and the US Exploring Expedition;
• Bainbridge High School's Anya Eber and her performance about Mary Boykin Chesnut; and
• Shorewood High School's Will Chan and Tim Tan, and their documentary about China's one-child policy.

Senior finals judging begins at 8:30 tomorrow morning, and we'll be there to cheer them on! Just as with the juniors, we are so proud of all our senior student scholars--once again, they impressed us with their poise, their intellect, and their love of history. Congratulations to all the Washington students!

Senior Judging on Tuesday

Yesterday the juniors did the heavy lifting; today it was the seniors' turn. Our senior judge times overlapped, so the History Day staff split up to try to see as many as possible.

We all started with Sequim High School's Olivia Boots and Rachel Haugland, whose documentary on the polio vaccine set a high standard.

After that, it was an uphill run to catch Academy Northwest's Anna Dubnow in her performance about Theodore Herzl, whose activism helped pave the way for an independent Israel.

We headed across campus again, this time to catch Shorewood High's Will Chan and Tim Tan. Their documentary about China's one-child policy wowed the audience.

After a quick lunch break, Lauren caught Amy and Audrey Christianson's compelling performance about Johannes Gutenberg, which featured a set piece painted by Audrey and outstanding acting and research by both sisters.

Rachel saw Bainbridge's Anya Eber present her performance about Mary Boykin Chesnut and Luke Jensen (at nationals for the fourth time) present his documentary about the U.S. Exploring Expedition.

It was typical Maryland summer here today--hot, humid, and breaking into thunderstorms late in the afternoon. A brief rain preceded the ceremonial posting of finals (see next post), but spirits remained high--the kids are starting to get a little punchy now that most of the judging is over.

When we're not competing...

We're doing lots of other fun stuff!

   Washington History Day staff get to relax at the annual state coordinators' dinner hosted by the University of Maryland. Fresh blue crab cakes and ice cream made by the university dairy--plus a gorgeous sunset under the magnolia trees. What more could you ask for? Well, for Mark and Rachel, a glass of wine completed the experience.

National director Cathy Gorn--who visited the Washington state contest last month to celebrate our 25th anniversary--celebrated her 25th year with National History Day. Sporting a new cowboy hat with pins from all the participating states, Cathy's all smiles.

Washington staffer Mark Vessey--dubbed "our favorite superhero" by the History Day students--dispenses his hard-earned wisdom to students watching a DVD in the dorm lounge (it's the only air-conditioned space in the building): that's Dana Floberg, Brianna and Katherine Lacy (Canyon Park Junior High) and Rebecca Smith (Bothell High School) hanging on Mark's every word.

I don't know whether this link will work, but if it does you'll love it. This is our national-finalist-for-the-Farrell-Award teacher Todd Beuke diving into the fun (?) into the UM's recreational pool. Download MOV00631.mpg Don't worry--it's back to work tomorrow morning for senior judging.

Three Junior Projects Move to Finals

Not one, not two, but THREE Washington projects have moved on to the junior division final round at nationals. Laura Harkins of Coupeville Middle School wowed the individual documentary judges with her project on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Reports from prelims were that Laura was poised and professional during her interview with the judges....and on she goes!

Redmond Junior High continues its extraordinary first-year run. The school just started History Day this year. They went to regionals. They went to state, where they took 1st through 4th place in junior group documentary. Now, BOTH junior group docs here are going on to finals. Quite a year for Raluca Ifrim and Koyo Kim, with their project on Galloping Gertie; and for Anand Raghuraman, Arjun Narayanan, Anthony McNicoll and Jake Levin, whose film on the Seattle Fire of 1889 wowed the judges (I know, I was there!).

Those of you familiar with History Day know that exhibit and paper finals aren't posted, so we don't know who went on from those categories. But we do know this: we are enormously proud of ALL our Washington students. It's no cliche to say that they're all winners. We're privileged to accompany these extraordinary scholars to National History Day.

Turtles, turtles everywhere

The University of Maryland is a BIG campus, and it's swarming with turtles; the sports teams are the Terrapins, or Terps for short. History Day staffer Mark Vessey loves terrapins of all kinds, and has made it a point to see (and, apparently, photograph) every turtle on campus.  Here's some shots from his morning run (and yes, I know that one of these is NOT a turtle). The terp's name, by the way, is Testudo. And no, I don't know why.

More junior division students complete judging

The juniors wrapped up preliminary judging today and are looking forward to two big events tonight: the student dance (picture several hundred students crammed into a giant room, listening to music and wondering whether they should ask that cute guy/girl from Wisconsin/California/American Samoa to dance) and the posting of entries going on to finals. Based on what we were able to see today, Washington's projects look competitive, but as we tell students, making it to finals or winning a medal isn't really the point. It's the experience of being here--listening to Ken Burns, meeting people from around the world, getting into DC and soaking up our history--that is the real prize.

That doesn't mean we're not rooting for our juniors, though! Watch the blog later tonight for news on the finals round.

Redmond Junior High students Anand Narayanan, Jake Levin, Koyo Kim, Arjun Raghuraman, Raluca Ifrim and Anthony McNicoll celebrate after completing their judge interviews. RJH swept the junior group documentary category at the state contest--and it's the first time the school has participated in History Day!

Junior Judging Today -- Washington's Kids are Setting the Bar High

Junior judging is going on today all across campus. We're about to head out for the afternoon session, but here's some quick shots of Washington's wonderful junior contestants:

Sequim's Lucas Shores-McKinney performs his project on Upton Sinclair's expose of meatpacking plants in the early 20th century. You know it's going well when the judge is nodding during your performance!

Sequim's Dalton Ackley and Sara Hankins strike a pose before their performance on Frederick Douglass. They cited the recent Lincoln biography in their answers to judges' questions!

Madeline Camp, Katie Treend, and Anna Stewart of Pleasant Valley Middle School get into a zen space before their performance about the Salem Witch Trials. The judges asked how James Madison might have felt about the constitutionality of the trials, and the girls answered the question in part by citing English law. Can you say, "Wow"?!

Ken Burns Opens National History Day; Sequim Teacher Todd Beuke Honored

One of the unexpected benefits of having to postpone the night tour of monuments was that we got to go the opening ceremony. It's always fun to see kids from around the world cheering for history, but sometimes the speakers are less than sparkling. Not this year.

Documentarian Ken Burns spoke to an enthralled crowd about the importance of history in society and about his upcoming film, "The War." Afterward, he was mobbed by hundreds of kids wanting photos and autographs, and when his handlers (yes, he has handlers) tried to pull him out, he shook them off, saying, "Leave me alone--I'm having a great time!" Of course he was: he's a rock star to historians, and he's with some of the best student historians in the country!

The opening ceremony is also where the finalists for the Richard T. Farrell Teacher of Merit Award are recognized. Washington's had finalists the past three years (we won the national award in 2005), and this year is no exception. Sequim superstar Todd Beuke got to attend a private reception with Ken Burns before the ceremony and saw a sneak peek of the new film, too. Check out Todd receiving his plaque from the chairman of the NHD board of directors! The Farrell Award winner is announced at the awards ceremony, so stay tuned!

Washington Delegation arrives--FINALLY

It took more than 48 hours, but everyone from the Washington delegation finally arrived at the University of Maryland at 6pm last night--about 24 hours later than planned. Here's what happened: the 59 people traveling with the group flight were at the airport, on time and raring to go, at 4:15am Saturday. Everyone checked in, checked bags and headed to the gate, where we boarded the plane. After five minutes on the plane, the pilot announced--gloomy music here, please--"technical difficulties." Five more minutes and we were told they had to change planes. Ouch.

After off-loading, though, Delta cancelled our flight entirely. The state staff spent the next seven hours (no, I am not exaggerating) getting Washington delegates placed onto--are you ready?--13 new flights. About ten people were able to leave by noon, while most of the rest of us had to wait until midnight or later--and the last 14 people from our group actually left the airport, spent the night at home, and took the same flight out one day later.

Re-reading that paragraph, it seems fairly benign, but let me assure you that it was nightmarish. First, Delta had to be convinced that they could not just randomly assign people to planes. Then, other airlines had to be convinced that no, really, we needed those three or five or eight spots. Then we had to try to keep our delegates informed of what was happening--which was doubly difficult since we were rebooking people in an office deep in the bowels of SeaTac. There's one place I hope not to see again soon. Meanwhile, we'd sent Mark Vessey on the first available flight out, and he stayed up until 4am checking in late arrivals--and was back up by 7am to greet more latecomers.

At any rate, kudos to the delegation for being such great sports about the disaster. We all got here, and last night we even got some sleep. But, we missed our traditional pizza party and had to reschedule the night tour to Wednesday instead.  We're still working on a possible team meeting, and Bainbridge teacher Loanne Harmeling--who rates this in the top 5 travel disasters to befall the WA group--coined a new phrase: We've been "Deltaed." To see what's happened since we arrived, take a look at the next post.

2007 Washington History Day Category Winners

Junior Individual Documentary

1. Sophia Carter, The Dutch Resistance to the Holocaust, Sequim Middle School, Todd Beuke
2. Laura Harkins, Triumph From the Ashes of the Triangle Tragedy:  Women’s Wear, Women’s Work, Women’s Will, Coupeville Middle School, Wilbur Purdue 
3. Adrianna Royal, More Than Man's Best Friend During Tragic Times: History of the War Dog Program, Royal Home School, Dena Royal   
4. Alison Coombs, Patriotism in the Face of Prejudice:  The 442nd Regimental Combat Team's Triumph over Racial Discrimination,  Canyon Park Junior High School, Dori Wuepper
5. Erin Altenhof-Long, The Triumphs and Tragedies of Polio, Wy'east Middle School, Michelle Annett   
6. Thomas Karren, I Am Become Death, KingstonJunior High School, Mary Lou Macala

Junior Group Documentary

1. Raluca Ifrim, Koyo Kim, Galloping Gertie: The Collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Redmond Junior High School, Kaylee Kolrud
2. Arjun Narayanan, Anthony McNicoll, Jacob Levin, Anand Raghuraman,The Great Seattle Fire:  Phoenix of the Northwest, Redmond Junior High School, Kaylee Kolrud   

3. Sana Nagar, Marianne Ostertag, Milan Vu, Embers of Reform: The Triangle Factory Fire, Redmond Junior High School, Kaylee Kolrud

4. Darien French-Owen, Tian Kisch, The Crimes of This Guilty Land:The Legacy of John Brown, Redmond Junior High School, Kaylee Kolrud

5. Erin Anderson, Alexis Garvin, Katelyn Mellinger, Mishaal Aleem, Dream, Discover, Soar: A Documentary on Amelia Earhart, McKnight Middle School, Kristie Walker

6. Clemente Welding Jones,  Anthony Li, Clouds Over Hiroshima, Mattson Middle School, Mary Aquino, Kim McKeever

Junior Individual Exhibit

1. Helen Lee, The Triangle Factory Fire: Tragedy and Triumph for the American Worker, Sunrise Elementary School, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski
2. Audrey Lichten, Wilma Rudolph: A Tragic Beginning to Triumphant Gold, Sequim Middle School, Todd Beuke   
3. Emilee Olson, Amelia Earhart: Spirit in the Sky, Mattson Middle School, Mary Aquino   
4. Kavita Shah, The Indian Independence Movement: Strength of Satyagraha, Sunrise Elementary School, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski
5. Hailey Estes, Fly Girls, Sequim Middle School, Tricia Billes   
6. Benjamin Wright, The Great Chicago Fire and the Rebirth of a City, Redmond Junior High School, Kaylee Kolrud   

Junior Group Exhibit

1. Madalyn Schei, Emily Najar, Nicolas Jensen, Pearl Harbor: The Tragic Setting of the Rising Sun, Port Susan Middle School, Sabrina Rode   
2. Brianna Lacy, Katherine Lacy, A Concrete Divide:  The Contrasting Outcomes of the Grand Coulee Dam, Canyon Park Junior High School, Dori Wuepper   
3. Lauren Olson, Julia Roper, Cabanatuan:  A MissionThat Saved Lives, Lynden Middle School, Jeff Seaholm   
4. Maria Hamilton, Hunter Vaughn, Hindenburg, Wy'east Middle School, Michelle Annett   
5. Martin Kanning, Nathan Madison,  Dylan Marashi, The Great ChicagoFire:  Rising from the Ashes, Sunrise Elementary School, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski
6. Jaiden Dokken, Sarah Doty, Puritans vs. the Witches: A Battleof Morals, Sequim Middle School, Tricia Billes    

Junior Individual Performance

1. Leigh Douglas, Traditional Irish Music and Dance: Triumphing Over Tragedy, Northshore Junior High School, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski
2. Lucas Shores-McKinney, Upton Sinclair: Triumphantly Raising Public Awareness Towards the Tragic Conditions in Meat Packing Houses, Sequim Middle School, Todd Beuke   
3. Emily Kreifels, Japanese American Internment: The Triumphs and Tragedies, Klahowya Secondary School, Jeff Kriefels   
4. Simone Prince-Eichner, Fair Trade: A Triumphant Alternative to the Tragedy of Child Labor, Prince HomeSchool, Irene Prince   
5. Amanda D'Almeida, Triumph: Clara Barton's Red Cross Overcomes the Tragedy of Johnston, Coupeville Middle School, Wilbur Purdue   
6. Sara Maskal, Tears of Blood: Triumph and Tragedy of the Korean War, Academy Northwest, Laurie Akehurst   

Junior Group Performance

1. Madeline Camp, Anna Stewart, Katie Treend, Hanged on the Noose of Oppression and Conformity, Pleasant Valley Middle School, Irene Soohoo   
2. Sara Hankins, DaltonAckley, Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Sequim Middle School, Todd Beuke, Tricia Billes
3. Brian Jeng, Aaron Mathisen, Nick Stoumbos, Jacob Wilson, Remember, Remember: Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, Wy'east Middle School, Michelle Annett   
4. Jessica Howard,  Frances Coughlin, Triumph Over Tragedy for the Blind and Deaf, Sunrise Elementary School, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski
5. Alana Peters, Debra Hulse, Elisha Burnett, Sacagawea's Trail of Triumph and Tragedy, Housel Middle School, Brock Buttars   
6. Brooke Adams, Esmy Jimenez, Benjamin Zocher, Alexander Miller, Tragedy in the Skies: Japanese Balloon Bombs Over Oregon, Housel Middle School, Dean Smith   

Junior Historical Paper

1. Dana Floberg, Classroom Assimilation: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Indian Boarding Schools, Canyon Park Junior High School, Dori Wuepper   
2. Jacob Bruce, Trust in Treaties: How Tragedy Turned to Triumph for Puget Sound Native American Fishing Rights, KingstonJunior High, Mary Lou Macala   

3. Stanley Janicki, The Revolving Gun Turret:  Triumph for the North, Tragedy for the South. The Day the Wooden Navy Died, Janicki Home School, Susan Janicki

4. Kiehl Sundt, First Shot of the Cold War, Sequim Middle School, Todd Beuke

5. Aaron Janicki, The Cost of War: Napoleon's Tragedy and America's Triumphant Purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Janicki Home School, Susan Janicki

6. Emily Raszler, Octavius Catto: Civil Rights Activist Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice, Poulsbo Junior High School, Catherine Campbell

Senior Individual Documentary

1. Luke Jensen, Charles Wilkes and the United States Exploring Expedition, Bainbridge High School, Loanne Harmeling   
2. Angela Cloud, Social Growth and Injustice in the Meatpacking Plants of Chicago, Lynden High School, Bob Carson   
3. Toban Platt, A Decision of Atomic Consequence:  The Triumphs and Tragedies of Truman's Ultimatum, Coupeville High School, Wilbur Purdue, Ryan Grenz
4. Daniel Inouye, The Triumphant Spirit of Japanese-Americans Who Fought in World War II, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen   
5. Nathan Doyle, Velvet Revolution: Triumph Over Tragic Oppression, Bethel High School, Jim Sawatzki   
6. Sara Levy, Politics and AIDS: A Tragedy of Ignorance and Fear, Shorewood High School, Un Chong Kim

Senior Group Documentary

1. Olivia Boots, Rachel Haugland, Marching Against Time: The Crusade for the Polio Vaccine, Sequim High School, Todd Beuke 
2. Wilfred Chan, Tim Tan, The High Cost of a Low Population:  The Triumph & Tragedy of China's One-Child Policy, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen   
3. Tyler Gregg, Sean Cockey, Thomas Massey, Sergei Korolev: Triumphant in Space Despite a Life of Tragedy, Poulsbo Junior High School, Catherine Campbell 
4. Sarah Roper, Natalie Witte, Triangle Shirtwaist: The Fire that Fueled Reform, Lynden High School, Bob Carson   
5. Amber Dickson, Jamie Gilmore, Gloria James, Dreya Bundesen, Jane Addams: Triumph Over the Tragedy of Social Injustice, Bethel High School, Jim Sawatzki   
6. Erika Maskal, Angelea Wickstrom, The Korean War: Forgotten Tragedy, Enduring Triumph, Academy Northwest, Laurie Akehurst

Senior Individual Exhibit

1. Ashley Hall, Out of the Ashes - A Cry For Reform: The Tragic Fire that Sparked Progressive Triumphs, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Rode
2. Brian Maskal, Atomic Bomb: A Race for Triumph or Tragedy, Academy Northwest , Laurie Akehurst
3. Erin Tenney, Ruffian: A Hero Before and After Her Death, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen
4. Shannon Quinn, Triumph and Tragedy of Camp Cabanatuan, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen
5. Blake Allen, Bismarck: Destruction of a Mighty Surface Raider, Kentridge High School, Mike Papritz
6. Alicia Travis , The Irish Potato Famine: Tragedy and Triumph, Bethel High School, Jim Sawatzki

Senior Group Exhibit

1. Alexandra Bartlett, Tara McIntyre, The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire:  Where the Death of 146 Garment Workers Spawned the Triumphant Transformation of Workers' Rights and Political Reform, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen
2. Shona Voelckers, Neil Carlson, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Rode
3. Breanne Harris, Casey Bridenbaugh, Carrie Eidsness, Tamara Jansen, The Space Race, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Rode
4. Hayley Peter-Contesse, Cara Thompson, Lindsay Willman, Josephine Wallace, Pirates: A Treasure Hunt for Democracy, Bainbridge High School, Loanne Harmeling
5. Michele Susee, Sierra Schleining, The Artificial Heart: Triumph Over Mortality, Bethel High School, Jim Sawatzki
6. Samantha Woods, Justine Berry, The Hiroshima Maidens, Edgemont Junior High School, Brooks Hazen

Senior Individual Performance

1. Anna Dubnow, Home at Last: Theodore Herzl, Paving the Way to Zion, Academy Northwest, Marlee Dubnow   
2. Anya Eber, Through the Tragedies of War, Triumphs of Character Are Born:  The Story of Mary Boykin Chesnut, Bainbridge High School, Loanne Harmeling   
3. Elyse Brouhard, When the Triumph of Reform Becomes a Tragedy: The Treatment of the Mentally Ill in America, Messiah Academy, Debra Brouhard   
4. Lena Cronin, Anne Frank's Diary and Its Impact on the World:  One Girl's Ability to Triumphantly View the World Positively During a Time of Tragedy, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen
5. Max Piscioneri, Savonarola Versus the Renaissance, Kentwood High School, Mary Aquino   
6. Danushen Gnanapragasam, Serendipity Shattered in Sri Lanka:  The Tragic Teardrop of the Indian Ocean, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen   

Senior Group Performance

1. Amy Christianson, Audrey Christianson, The Invention that Changed the World: Triumph and Tragedy of Johann Gutenberg, Christianson Home School,  Elizabeth Christianson
2. Emily Weeks, Marie Jenkins, Abigail Anderson, The Centralia Massacre, Centralia High School, Colleen State
3. Lindsay Simon, Claire Petersen, Ian Stoner, Liberating the Innocent: Finding Triumph in the Tragedy of the Holocaust, Charles Wright Academy, Nicholas Coddington
4. Chaune Schafer, Clarin McDonald, SavannahHunka, The Rwandan Genocide: The Story of Immaculee Ilibagiza, Mount Spokane High School,  Luke Thomas
5. Evelyn Economy, Donna Horning, Julia Ringo, Manhattan: The Triumph of the Quest to Build the Bomb and the Tragedy It Became, Bainbridge High School, Loanne Harmeling
6. Jonathan Shines, Reggie McDuffy, Malcolm X: One Man's Journey Through Triumph and Tragedy, Bethel High School, Jim Sawatzki

Senior Historical Paper

1. Rebecca Smith, Saving the Dust Bowl: "Big Hugh" Bennett's Triumph over Tragedy, Bothell High School, Dori Wuepper
2. Stephen Payne, To the Ends of the Earth:  The United States Exploring Expedition, Seattle Preparatory School, Mark Johnson
3. Kayta Samuels, Dr. Sara Josephine Baker:  Triumphal Figure Against a Tragic Backdrop, Shorewood High School, Rich Stuart
4. Jack Hanley, Bainbridge Island:  A Close-Knit Community's Tragedy and Triumph, Seattle Preparatory School, Mark Johnson
5. Melissa Weiner, The Tragedy of the Holocaust Leads to the Triumphant Creation of Israel, Bethel High School, Jim Sawatzki
6. Conor Mahoney, Martha and Waitstill Sharp:  Overcoming Tragedy to Triumph, Seattle Preparatory School, Mark Johnson