Maryland Student Makes History at National Competition
The Maryland Humanities Council is incredibly proud of all of the students who advanced to the national competition and excited to announce results from yesterday’s awards ceremony!
Ethan McComb & Jim Leach at the awards ceremony
Ethan McComb, a student at Plum Point Middle School in Calvert County, received the Gold medal (1st place) in the Junior Individual Exhibit category for his exhibit titled “The Marshall Plan: America’s Soft Power Diplomacy Saves Europe from Economic and Political Chaos Following World War II.” This is the FIRST TIME a Maryland student has garnered a first place award. His teacher is Merry Ellen Fallica. This was Ethan’s second year participating in the national contest. The National Endowment for the Humanities Scholars Award, which is also given to each first place winner, includes a cash prize.
Michael Keen, a homeschooler from Montgomery County, instructed by his mother Christine Keen, received the Bronze Medal in the Senior Paper category. His paper is titled “Lost Opportunities for Peace: Vietnam, 1945 -1950.” Michael, who has competed since he as in sixth grade, took the same prize that his brother Eric won in 2010. Often History Day is a family affair—two sets of Maryland siblings competed in the national contest.
Other Awards Received
- A special prize was awarded to Camila Uechi for her Senior Individual Web Site. As a result, Uechi receives a scholarship to Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her website was titled “The Bay of Pigs: A Diplomatic Turning Point.” Camila is a student at the Bullis School in Montgomery County; her teacher is Sara Romeyn.
- Anne Arundel County student Alexandra La Pierre’s Senior Individual Exhibit, “Diplomacy of Appeasement: The Munich Agreement of 1938” was selected for display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. She attends Broadneck High School; her teacher is Traci Anderson.
- Additional recognition included two awards for Outstanding State Entry:
· Junior Division: Maria Viera, Mayfield Woods Middle School, Howard County (Junior Individual Web Site, “The Cuban Missile Crisis”) Teachers: James McVey, Charla Phillips, Tim Grafton
· Senior Division: Emily Galik, Marriotts Ridge High School, Howard County (Senior Individual Exhibit, “Patients or Prisoners? Dorothea Dix and the Debate Surrounding the American Asylum Movement”). Her exhibit will also be on display at the Maryland conference of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) in October. Teacher: Richard Malt.
Two other students’ projects matriculated to the final round of competition. Duncan Rheingans-Yoo’s Junior Paper, “Post War Korea: Negotiations, Impact, and Korea Today,” and Kane Herrick’s Senior Individual Web Site, “Iran Hostage Crisis: America’s Failed Diplomacy” were considered in the final rounds of judging. Duncan is a student at Oakland Mills Middle School in Howard County and Kane Herrick is a student at the Bullis School in Montgomery County. Duncan’s instructors include Karen Saunderson and Kathleen Quinn. Herrick’s teacher is Sara Romeyn.
The two Maryland teachers who received the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year awards for Maryland were also recognized during the June 16th ceremony. They were Amie Sanner, the Maryland High School History Day Teacher of the Year (Calvert High School in Calvert County) and Rebecca Castle, the Maryland Middle School History Day Teacher of the Year (Isaac Gourdine Middle School, Prince George’s County).
The full list of winners is available at http://nhd.org/AwardsWinners.htm
The main NHD website may also prove useful: http://nhd.org/
Congratulations to all of our student Scholars! Recent studies have shown that History Day participation affects students lives in a positive way, including increased test scores and enhanced critical thinking skills. Are you a former History Day participant? How was your experience? We’d love to know!
Tags: award, competition, day, gold, History, Maryland, medal, national