Triumphs and tragedies earn honors for student historians
Contributed by Richland School District One

Hand Middle School students (l- r) Jackie McSorley, who received honors at the National History Day awards competition at the University of Maryland in June, with other participants Ginger Seymore and Aran Savory.

The development of the polio vaccine and the exploits of a Civil War hero proved to be award- winning topics for two Hand Middle School students who won cash, medals, and other honors in the National History Day (NHD) awards competition held at the University of Maryland in June.

Seventh- grader Jackie

McSorley's project, Immunized

or Paralyzed - Triumphs

and Tragedies of the

Polio Vaccine, placed 14th in the nation in the junior individual documentary division. But the honors don't end there for McSorley. Her documentary was one of six that was selected for presentation at the National Museum of Health and Medicine.

Classmate Sarah Rhu also took top honors.

Sarah's paper, From Civil

Sarah Rhu took top honors in National History Day program.

War Hero to Convicted Congressman:

The Triumph

and Tragedy of Robert

Smalls, received the National Bronze Medal award and a $250 cash prize in the junior division historical paper category. The Civil War Preservation Trust also awarded Rhu a gold medal and a $1000 cash prize for her outstanding entry.

Richland One also congratulates Hand Middle School students Aran Savory and Ginger Seymour who participated in the national competition. Aran and Ginger's entry,

The Trials: Triumph and

Tragedy of a Struggling

Puritan Community, dealt with the horrors of the Salem Witch Trials. As school, regional, and state history champions, all four Hand students won the privilege of competing in the national program.

National History Day is a nationwide project that encourages students in middle and high schools across the country to delve into various historical topics and use that knowledge to create documentaries, exhibits, historical papers, and performances based on their research. Students' entries are evaluated by professional historians and educators. Students compete for local, state, regional and national awards.

Each year more than half a million students participate in the NHD contests. In addition to getting students excited about history, NHD helps students develop other skills such as critical thinking.