2007 National History Day
June 9 - 14, 2007 Washington, D.C. - Research into the environmental controversy over the dumping of taconite tailings into Lake Superior and the history of how the USO has supported American troops, helped two Minnesota entries earn top honors at the 2007 National History Day competition. In all, eight entries from Minnesota won national honors at the University of Maryland, where 51 Minnesota students joined 2,000 other students from across the nation during the week-long competition.
Tania Wolverton-Falk, Kiehlor Mack, Mikhail Mack and Tim Hoogland
The students, representing grades six-12, presented research papers, exhibits, documentaries and performances that showed off months of research into topics based on the 2007 History Day theme, "Triumph and Tragedy in History." The top three national finishers in each category receive monetary awards. First place receives $1,000, second place receives $500 and third place receives $250. National History Day also recognizes one outstanding state entry in each division, junior and senior, with a medal.
Fridley High School ninth-graders Kiehlor Mack and Mikhail Mack took first place for their senior group exhibit "Lives vs. Livelihoods: The Reserve Mining Controversy." Using primary documents and interviews, the Mack brothers analyzed the Silver Bay, Minn. taconite controversy. The exhibit also won the Rachel Carson Centennial Environmental History Award.
From left to right: Hilary Geerdes, Georgia Simonson, Callie Sacarelos, Iris Fricke, Tim Hoogland (State History Day Coordinator), Kelsey Geerdes. Photo credit: Minnesota Historical Society
A group of senior-division students from Christ's Household of Faith (CHOF) School in St. Paul earned second place for their performance on the United Service Organizations titled "USO: A Home Away From Home." Iris Fricke, Hilary Geerdes, Kelsey Geerdes, Callie Sacarelos and Georgia Simonson analyzed the importance of the USO as a morale-boosting organization for American troops from World War II through the present.
Other top 10 finishers
- Justin Buhl and Ryan Solomon, Sunrise Park Middle School: junior group documentary - fifth place
- Adriane Otopalik, Mankato West High School: senior individual documentary - seventh place
- Jacob Nelson, John Paul II Homeschool: senior paper - seventh place
- Brynna Wilken-Resman, St. Anthony Middle School: junior individual performance - eighth place
- Paige Burgeson and Kayla Mork, Breck School: junior group exhibit - ninth place
- Sally Caruso and Gracie White, Breck School: junior group performance - tenth place
Otopalik and Wilken-Resman were also named the Outstanding State Entries.
