National History Day in Missouri
Program Report, 2009

Five hundred twenty students and one hundred eleven teachers from eighty-six schools participated in the annual National History Day in Missouri competition held on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus on April 4. The three hundred sixteen entries that qualified for state competition had been selected at the nine regional contests held earlier in the spring, where more than 2,600 students participated across the state.

Eighty-five students won medals and twenty-eight claimed special prizes at the state contest. Fifty-five of Missouri's best students went on to represent the state as delegates to the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest, June 14-18 at the University of Maryland, College Park, competing against more than 2,400 students from around the country. Missouri had one second-place-winning entry and two special prize winners at this year's contest. Second place in the Junior Individual Documentary category went to Kassidy Murphy, who was in eighth grade in the Risco R-II Schools in Risco. Her documentary was called Formula for a First Lady. Mark Castera, of Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, won the American Labor History Special Prize for his Senior Historical Paper, Samuel Gompers: The New Face of Labor. Chi Zeng, of Clayton High School in Clayton, won the Legacy Award from the Creativity Foundation for outstanding service, creative promise, model student behavior, and participation in National History Day. In addition, Eric Peer, of Carthage, won Outstanding State Entry for Missouri in the junior division for his individual exhibit, Julia Lathrop and Better Babies, and Bradley Dice of Liberty won Outstanding State Entry for Missouri in the senior division for his website, Buckminster Fuller: The Actions and Legacies of a Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Scientist. Seven Missouri entries—eight students—made it to the final round at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest. In all, 24 of Missouri's 33 participating entries placed in the top half of all national participants, with another one within one place of that mark. This outcome is quite an accomplishment by Missouri's students!

The State Program

National History Day in Missouri is a program that encourages young people to conduct extensive research and to explore historical subjects related to an annual theme. Participants present their findings in papers, exhibits, performances, documentary, and Web site presentations at local History Day events, district and state competitions, and finally at a national contest at the University of Missouri-College Park.

In addition to running the annual contest and overseeing the nine regional programs within Missouri, NHDMO presents teacher workshops and creates lesson plans and annual, theme-related, local topic lists, which it makes available on its web site: http://whmc.umsystem.edu/nhd/nhdmain.html. The site also includes information about the regional and state contests and workshops.

Sponsored by The State Historical Society of Missouri and the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia at the University of Missouri, the state program is affiliated with National History Day, which is made up of programs in 49 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, American School in Shanghai, and U.S. Department of Defense schools on bases overseas.

The National Program

National History Day began as an educational competition involving 100 secondary school students in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1974. Today it is a highly regarded national program annually involving thousands of students and teachers. . . . More than 2,400 young people took part in the National competition this year.

All types of students participate in NHD—rural and urban students; public, private, parochial, and home school students; students at all learning levels and abilities. Researching for an entry enhances a young person's reading, comprehension, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, while fostering pride in personal heritage and the nation's history and place in the world.

For teachers, History Day offers curricular aids such as lesson plans and bibliographic guides to be used in the classroom. As one teacher said, "National History Day encourages creativity in teaching with an emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving—a great improvement over traditional teaching methods, making teaching a more creative, intellectual exercise".

Each year the National History Day committee, made up of state coordinators, selects a broad theme. Students may choose any topic—local, regional, national, or international—but must limit its scope to make their research and interpretation manageable. Topics must be directly focused on an issue that the student can explain within the limits of entry length, size, or time. The 2009 theme was "The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies." Some students researched national or global topics while others dealt with local or regional events. Regardless of the topic selected, students had to not only present a description of it, but also draw conclusions about how their topic affected individuals, communities, nations, or the world.

The staff of National History Day at the University of Maryland-College Park, with support from sponsors that include Mr. Kenneth E. Behring, The History Channel, ABC-CLIO, and Jostens Printing and Publishing, publish a teaching guide to help get students thinking about the theme. It provides lesson plans and teaching strategies for using the program in the classroom, and offers topic suggestions and selected bibliographic sources.

The Regional Programs

Over 2,600 Missouri students participated in regional History Day programs during the 2009 contest year. The following persons directed regional programs sponsored by nine institutions across the state:

• Tom Spencer, Department of History and Humanities, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville
• Jeff Gall and Kathryn Brammall, Department of History, Truman State University, Kirksville
• Mark Adams, Educational Programs, Harry S. Truman Library, Independence
• Shelly Croteau, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City
• Peter Acsay, Department of History, University of Missouri-St. Louis
• Paul Teverow, Social Sciences Division, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin
• George Hummasti, Department of History, Missouri State University, Springfield
• Jeff Schramm, Department of History, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla
• Joel Rhodes, Center for Regional History, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau

The 2009 NHDMO State Winners
[with national contest finalists noted]

Junior Historical Papers

Delegates to NHD:

• Aishwarya Yadama, Wydown Middle School, Clayton, Teacher/s: Janet Baldwin, Linda Gwyn; Sir Edmund Hillary: An Explorer and a Humanitarian
• Sydney Goggins, Columbia Independent School, Columbia, Teacher/s: Jason Bricker; A Hunger for Justice: Bobby Sands

Alternate:

• Christopher Vlamis, South Valley Junior High School, Liberty, Teacher/s: Kimberly Thompson; Galileo: A Spirited Astronomer

Junior Individual Exhibits

Delegates to NHD:

• Eric Peer, Home School, Carthage, Teacher/s: Julie Peer; Julia Lathrop and Better Babies [Eric was a NHD Finalist and winners of Outstanding State Entry award for juniors at NHD.]
• Joseph Schneider, St. Margaret of Scotland School, St. Louis, Teacher/s: Bridget Noser; Julia Child: A Cook for America

Alternate:

• Toby Miller, Risco R-II Schools, Risco, Teacher/s: Michael Murphy, Melanie Tipton; Liberty's I.O.U.

Junior Group Exhibits

Delegates to NHD:

• Wesley Hjelm, Peyton Munch, Hannibal Middle School, Hannibal, Teacher/s: Terry Trullinger; Henry Ford: Master of Mass Production
• Sydney Lambert, Allie Ridgeway, Kirksville Middle School, Kirksville, Teacher/s: Susan Hazen; Wangari Maathai's Green Vision

Alternate:

• Vada Harris, Sandra Wicklund, Neosho Middle School, Neosho, Teacher/s: Julie Hulley; Sacajawea: Strong Woman Who Led the Way

Junior Individual Performances

Delegates to NHD:

• Ashwath Kumar, Smithton Middle School, Columbia, Teacher/s: Thomas Prater; Jawaharlal Nehru: His Influence on India today [Ashwath was an NHD Finalist.]
• Victor Kellen, Princeton R-V School, Princeton, Teacher/s: Maureen Funk; Yearning for Learning with Dr. Suess

Alternate:

• Grace Carlson, New Mark Middle School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Julie Goldsberry; Eleanor Roosevelt: The True Spirit of the United States

Junior Group Performances

Delegates to NHD:

• Kelsey Collins, Olivia Denslow, McKenzie Simmons, Cameron Snyder, Camden Woods, Kirksville Middle School, Kirksville, Teacher/s: Susan Hazen; Maria Turner Harvey: Inspirational Rural Educator
• Skylar Townsend, Kennedy Tunks, Makinsey Workman, King City R-I Schools, King City, Teacher/s: Michael Jenkins, Kaysie Tunks; Elizabeth Cady Stanton
• Jacqueline Louderman, Jordan Louderman, Abigail Morrall, Hannibal Middle School, Hannibal, Teacher/s: Terry Trullinger; Helen Adams Keller, A Hero's Story

Alternate:

• Emma Hogrebe, Ally Knopp, Anne Ortwerth, Claire Rainford, St. Raphael the Archangel School, St. Louis, Teacher/s: Christy Connor; Susan Elizabeth Blow: Champion of Early Education
• Kaylin Goins, Alexis Novak, Bloomfield Middle School, Bloomfield, Teacher/s: Paul Arnold; Votes For Women: Two Individuals & One Legacy

Junior Individual Documentaries

Delegates to NHD:

• Shannon Shaffer, Kirksville Middle School, Kirksville, Teacher/s: Susan Hazen; Harry Laughlin and The Eugenic Movement
• Kassidy Murphy, Risco R-II Schools, Risco, Teacher/s: Michael Murphy, Melanie Tipton; Formula for a First Lady [Kassidy won second place at NHD.]

Alternates:

• Alexx Graham, Barstow School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Sarah Knopik; Holding Fast to Dreams: Langston Hughes's Writing Legacy

Junior Group Documentaries

Delegates to NHD:

• David Behrend, Will Shao, Wydown Middle School, Clayton, Teacher/s: Janet Baldwin, Linda Gwyn; Wernher von Braun: Engineering the Space Age
• Paige Robison, Emily Schueppert, Holy Infant School, Ballwin, Teacher/s: Bob Stevens; Marie Curie

Alternate:

• Kinsey Helton, Bryan Morton, Kirksville Middle School, Kirksville, Teacher/s: Susan Hazen; The Father of Osteopathy

Junior Websites

Delegates to NHD:

• Emily Duncan, Liberty Junior High School, Liberty, Teacher/s: Inga Nordstrom-Kelly; Rebel Rose: A Life of Espionage and Secrecy [Emily was an NHD Finalist.]
• Rachel Hauser, Holy Infant School, Ballwin, Teacher/s: Bob Stevens; Marie Curie: Researcher and Role Model [Rachel was an NHD Finalist.]

Alternate:

• Caitlin Brock, Shea Dalton, Diamond Middle School, Diamond, Teacher/s: Heather Asbell; Rosa Parks: Civil Rights Icon

Senior Historical Papers

Delegates to NHD:

• Mark Castera, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Christopher Elmore; Samuel Gompers: The New Face of Labor [Mark won the American Labor History Special Prize at NHD.]
• Amanda Lalk, Risco R-II Schools, Risco, Teacher/s: Michael Murphy, Melanie Tipton; Gunshots in the Grand Mosque: Juhayman al Uteybi and the Origins of Al Qaeda

Alternate:

• Jacob Clayton, Bernie High School, Bernie, Teacher/s: Kristy Barnes; "The Man:" of the Renaissance

Senior Individual Exhibits

Delegates to NHD:

• Austin Echelmeier, Blue Springs High School, Blue Springs, Teacher/s: Dacia Rzchowski; Carson's Spring for a Greener Tomorrow
• Logan Randolph, Clearwater High School, Peidmont, Teacher/s: Lori Randolph; "A Life Is Not Important Except In The Impact It Has On Other Lives" Jackie Robinson

Alternate:

• Andrea McCord, Risco R-II Schools, Risco, Teacher/s: Michael Murphy, Melanie Tipton; The Pellagra Puzzle

Senior Group Exhibits

Delegates to NHD:

• Michaela Joines, Abigail Miner, Carthage High School, Carthage, Teacher/s: Kathleen Swift; "The Man Who Raised America" -- Dr. Benjamin Spock
• Nabeel Chowdhury, Daniel Galarza, Tianna McBroom, Rolla Junior High School, Rolla, Teacher/s: Cynthia Felts, Mary Mueller; Nikola Tesla

Alternate:

• Ashley Linder, Courtney Scott, Seneca High School, Seneca, Teacher/s: Cheryl Butterfield; Starving for Suffrage: Alice Paul and the Great Mosaic

Senior Individual Performances

Delegates to NHD:

• Justin Knoll, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Scott Reagan; August Wilson
• Kate LaRose, Rock Bridge High School, Columbia, Teacher/s: Marilyn Toalson; Gloria Steinem: Fighter for Feminism

Alternate:

• P.J. Lawhon, Pembroke Hill School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Sam Knopik; Andrew Jackson Higgins: "The Man Who Won the War for Us"

Senior Group Performances

Delegates to NHD:

• Brittany Golden, Andrew Schesser, Carthage High School, Carthage, Teacher/s: Kathleen Swift; The Actions of Annie White Baxter: A Lasting Legacy for Women's Suffrage [Brittany and Andrew were finalists at NHD.]
• Alexa Grissom, Hannah Moore, Kassie Lawrence, Taylor Robinson, Gideon Junior High, Gideon, Teacher/s: James Breece, Micah Breece; When you put your hand to the plow...

Alternate:

• Anna Godbey, Jordan Passley, Risco R-II Schools, Risco, Teacher/s: Michael Murphy, Melanie Tipton, Kim Powell; Loyal To Their Flags: Two Virginian Vixens

Senior Individual Documentaries

Delegates to NHD:

• Nathaniel Townsend, Clayton High School, Clayton, Teacher/s: Janet Baldwin, Linda Gwyn; The Actions and Legacies of Fidel Castro
• Henry Shull, Warrensburg High School, Warrensburg, Teacher/s: Matthew Bax; William Hirth: Agricultural Visionary

Alternate:

• R.J. Koch, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Chirstopher Elmore; Pincus and the Pill [Since Henry could not attend NHD, R.J. competed as the second MO entry in this category.]

Senior Group Documentaries

Delegates to NHD:

• Angela Cannady, Leah Gruneisen, Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis, Teacher/s: Robert Vass; Renaissance Genius, Modern Legend: Leonardo Da Vinci
• Christine Schlafly, Rachel Yu, Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis, Teacher/s: Robert Vass; The Man Behind the Masterpiece: Ludwig Van Beethoven

Alternate:

• J.D. Mahaffey, Cory McCoy, Madison Minter, Greenwood Lab School, Springfield, Teacher/s: Candace Fisk; The Engineering Legacies of Leonardo da Vinci: An Individual Whose Actions Will Never be Forgotten

Senior Web Sites

Delegates to NHD:

• Bradley Dice, Liberty Junior High School, Liberty, Teacher/s: Inga Nordstrom-Kelly; Buckminster Fuller: The Actions and Legacies of a Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Scientist [Bradley was a NHD Finalist and winners of Outstanding State Entry award for seniors at NHD.]
• Dee Luo, Chi Zeng, Clayton High School, Clayton, Teacher/s: Janet Baldwin, Linda Gwyn; Henry Ford: Grabbing History by the Wheel

Alternate:

• Craig Mitchell, Michael Weaver, Alex White, Carthage High School, Carthage, Teacher/s: Kathleen Swift; Oskar Schindler: Angel of the Jews

2009 NHDMO Special Prize Winners

Women's History Prizes presented by the American Association of Univeristy Women (AAUW)

• Junior Individual Exhibit - Julia Lathrop and Better Babies; Eric Peer, Home School, Carthage, Teacher/s: Julie Peer
• Junior Individual Performance - Eleanor Roosevelt: No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent; Katherine Gardner, Columbia Independent School, Columbia, Teacher/s: Jason Bricker

Dr. Howard Croteau Memorial Prize

• Junior Individual Documentary - Harry Laughlin and the Eugenic Movement; Shannon Shaffer, Kirksville Middle School, Kirksville, Teacher/s: Susan Hazen

Folk History Prizes

• Cansler Folk History Prize: Junior Group Documentary - The Father of Osteopathy; Kinsey Helton and Bryan Morton, Kirksville Middle School, Kirksville, Teacher/s: Susan Hazen
• Missouri Folklore Society Prize: Junior Individual Exhibit - Marie Turner Harvey: Progressive Rural Educator; Caitlin Pennington, Kirksville Middle School, Kirksville, Teacher/s: Susan Hazen

Jewish History Prizes

• Senior Historical Paper - Samuel Gompers: The New Face of Labor; Mark Castera, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Christopher Elmore
• Senior Individual Documentary - Pincus and the Pill; R.J. Koch, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Christopher Elmore
• Senior Individual Documentary- "Upholding the Honor of the Human Race"; Traci Manes, Risco R-II Schools, Risco, Teacher/s: Michael Murphy, Melanie Tipton, Kim Powell

Kansas City Area Archivists Prize

• Junior Historical Paper - Sir Edmund Hillary: An Explorer and a Humanitarian; Aishwarya Yadama, Wydown Middle School, Clayton, Teacher/s: Janet Baldwin, Linda Gwyn

Local History Prize

• Junior Group Exhibit - Daniel Boone: The Man, the Myth, and the Legend; Gage Bartlett and Alex Yiannos, Hollister Middle School, Hollister, Teacher/s: Charlene Free

Missouri German Heritage Prize

• Senior Individual Documentary - One Man, Six Strings, An American Legend; Kori Caswell, Hannibal High School, Hannibal, Teacher/s: Daron Caswell

Missouri State History Prize

• Junior Individual Exhibit - A Man, A Doctor, A Legend, A.T. Still; Maria Kondrashova, Kirksville Middle School, Kirksville, Teacher/s: Susan Hazen

Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City Prize

• Senior Group Exhibit - Pendergast: Actions, Impacts, and Legacies; Lauren Dollar and Leslie Thornburg, Blue Springs High School, Blue Springs, Teacher/s: Dacia Rzchowski

Dr. William T. Stolz III Prize

• Junior Individual Performance - Arthur Miller in the Round; Carolyn Beard, Wydown Middle School, Clayton, Teacher/s: Janet Baldwin, Linda Gwyn

Arvah Strickland African-American History Prizes

• Senior Historical Paper - Charlie "The Bird" Parker: Soaring to New Heights; Scott Brown, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Teacher/s: Richard Sullivan
• Junior Individual Exhibit - A Grand Slam for African American Equality; Tanner Sublette, Hannibal Middle School, Hannibal, Teacher/s: Terry Trullinger
• Junior Individual Documentary - "So This is the Little Lady Who Started This War?": Harriet Beecher Stowe's Contribution to the Instigation of the American Civil War; Madelaine Chotrow, Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, Joplin, Teacher/s: Scott Johnson
• Junior Group Performance - The Legacy of Harriet Tubman: A Journey to Freedom; Rebecca Kennedy, Sara Long, Shelby Schaefer, Regina Seyer, Tiffany Wood, St. Ambrose School, Cape Girardeau, Teacher/s: Gladys Hency

Willard T. Young Prizes

• Senior Individual Exhibit - "A Life Is Not Important Except In The Impact It Has On Other Lives" Jackie Robinson; Logan Randolph, Clearwater High School, Clearwater, Teacher/s: Lori Randolph
Senior Individual Exhibit - Floyd Morgan: American Soldier; Derek Spurgeon, Rolla Junior High School, Rolla, Teacher/s: Cynthia Felts, Janiece Mulia Senior Historical Paper - George Kennen--An Individual's Efforts Against Communism; Nicole Sauer, Rolla Junior High School, Rolla, Teacher/s: Cynthia Felts, Janiece Mulia

Joseph Webber Teacher Award

Several years ago, National History Day established an award program for teachers, naming its prize for Richard Farrell, one of the first coordinators of a state program. Soon after that, when Joseph Webber, a member of The State Historical Society of Missouri's Executive Committee died, his family and friends funded a memorial to honor National History Day teachers in Missouri. The 2009 Webber Prize for the National History Day in Missouri teacher of the year is Paul Arnold, Bloomfield Middle School. Mr. Arnold was the Missouri nominee for the PBS Teacher of Merit Award (formerly the Richard Farrell Teacher of Merit Award) presented at the 2009 Kenneth E. Behring National History Day contest in College Park, MD in June.

Governor's Humanities Awards

For the third year, the Missouri Humanities Council honored Missouri's National History Day finalists and their teachers at its annual Governor's Humanities Awards at the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City. On October 22, the three students were among those recognized at the ceremony and high tea celebrating their achievements. Each received a special certificate commemorating the event.

Interns

National History Day in Missouri had two interns this year. In the fall, the intern worked primarily on teacher resources for National History Day, including lesson plans and other informational materials. She also worked on aspects of the teacher workshop and other tasks. In the spring, the other intern researched for and prepared the Missouri Topics List relating to the 2010 National History Day theme, Innovation in History: Impact and Change. She also assisted with preparation and clean-up work for the state contest and worked on contest day. The results of both interns' research can be found on the National History Day in Missouri website.

Teacher Workshops

The National History Day in Missouri staff and guest speakers conducted a daylong teacher workshop on November 15, 2008, emphasizing state-level digital resources relating to the 2009 theme of The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies and focusing on helping teachers with resources for using National History Day in the classroom. The workshop was funded by a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council, with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It took place at the Camden County Museum in Linn Creek and included a presentation on the Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative by Sharon Brock, Missouri State Archives, and a session from veteran Wydown Middle School teacher Janet Baldwin on how to use National History Day with students as part of the classroom curriculum. There was also a session presented by Deborah Luchenbill, State Coordinator, on the basics of National History Day and National History Day in Missouri and a tour of the Camden County Museum by museum volunteer staff.

Annual NHD Delegate Clinics

There were two delegate clinics this year with 25 of the 55 National History Day in Missouri delegates attending. The students attended an afternoon workshop at the Harry S. Truman library on April 24, and at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on May 2. A planned clinic in Columbia on May 9 was cancelled due to lack of registration. While getting to know some of the other members of the Missouri delegation, the students benefited from advice for upgrading their presentations prior to the national contest. Providing the expert advice were volunteers as well as the National History Day in Missouri state coordinator, regional coordinators, several teachers, parents, and other students.

Black History Month Exhibit

For the eighth year in a row, an exhibit was transferred to a portable exhibit board and sent to the Columbia Public Schools as a traveling exhibit for Black History Month. This year's exhibit about the Lloyd Gaines was created by Billy Swift, a 2008 National History Day in Missouri winner and National History Day participant from Columbia Catholic School, and the exhibit was enjoyed by students in both middle schools and junior high schools around Columbia.

Social Networking

National History Day in Missouri joined the social networking sphere with a fan page on Facebook and a Flickr photo account. With a Facebook account, anyone can become a fan, look over the updates and pictures from the national contest, and receive updates and information throughout the contest year. The Flickr account, with photos from National History Day in Missouri activities, can be accessed by those making it a "contact" from their Flickr acocunt or by a special link.

Additional Funding

In 1991, the state legislature initially funded the National History Day in Missouri program at a level that remained unchanged through 2008. However, in late 2008, due to state withholdings, the remainder of the budget was withheld. National History Day in Missouri expenses were then covered by cost savings at Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia from the retirement of the Rolla Associate Director and by the $15 state registration fee for each student. National History Day in Missouri was pleased to accept donations to the program from the University of Missouri-Columbia's Department of History and from Toni Messina of Columbia. The History Channel is also the generous sponsor of the online registration system.