Howard County History Day Student and Teacher to be Honored at State House

Press Release

January 19, 2010
Contact: Judy Dobbs
410-685-4185
Jdobbs@mdhc.org

HOWARD COUNTY HISTORY DAY STUDENT AND TEACHER TO BE HONORED AT STATE HOUSE

BALTIMORE, MD. January 19, 2010. Six outstanding Maryland middle and high school students - including one from Howard County - who received national honors at the annual National History Day competition and the 2009 Maryland History Day Teacher of the Year - a former Howard County teacher - will receive commendations at sessions of the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates Monday, January 25, 2010.

The students won awards at the 2009 Maryland History Day competition, sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council, and received honors at the 2009 National History Day contest, where they competed with over 2,500 students from across the country.

Maryland History Day, conducted since 1999 by the Maryland Humanities Council, is an engaging, year-long educational program in which students showcase their research through interpretive papers, dramatic performances, historical exhibits, multi-media documentaries and websites. Over 16,500 middle and high school students from 16 counties and Baltimore City participate in the History Day program.

"Columbia Gas of Maryland continues to be impressed by the level of scholarship the students display through their Maryland History Day projects," said Columbia Gas of Maryland President and CEO, M. Carol Fox. "We are proud to support humanities education through our partnership with the Maryland Humanities Council and are pleased to witness the continued enthusiasm and hard work of the students and teachers who participate."

In addition to Columbia Gas, the State of Maryland, through the Maryland State Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities provide support for Maryland History Day, which is open to public, private, parochial and homeschool students in Maryland in grades 6 through 12.

Faith Chung, a student at Patuxent Valley Middle School in Howard County, was a finalist at National History Day 2009 for his exhibit "Gustave Eiffel: Magician of Iron." His teachers were Leila Mahlin and Ed Esbrandt.

Margaret "Terri" O'Connell, a former teacher at Mayfield Woods Middle School in Howard County, received the Maryland History Day Teacher of the Year Award for 2009.

Ryan Burton, a student at Milton Somers Middle School in Charles County, received the Outstanding State Entry Award at National History Day 2009 and was a finalist in the Junior Documentary Category for his documentary "Benjamin O. Davis." His teacher was Kyle Gobe.

Alanna Natanson, a student at Eastern Middle School in Montgomery County, was a finalist at National History Day 2009 for her performance "That Flanagan Woman: The Story of Hallie Flannagan in Three Parts." Her teacher was Laurie Hawe.

Christopher Perdue, a homeschool student in Derwood, Montgomery County, was a finalist at National History Day 2009 for his performance "N'er To Be Forgotten: The Legacy of Robert Burns." His teacher is Susan Perdue.

Nathan Rehr, a 2009 graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and now a freshman at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, received the Outstanding State Entry Award at National History Day 2009 and was a finalist in the Senior Documentary Category for his documentary "Sargent Shriver: From Idealism to Institution." His teachers were Dennis Jutras and Maureen O'Neill.

Lauren White, a student at Huntingtown High School in Calvert County, was a finalist at National History Day 2009 for her documentary "Art as Activism: The Compelling Paintings of Ben Shahn." Her teacher was Mary Casey.

The Maryland Humanities Council is a statewide, educational, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. The purpose of the Council is to stimulate and promote informed dialogue and civic engagement on issues critical to Marylanders.