Teaches, prepares, and inspires: the motto of National History Day.

On February 25, students piled into Spartan Hall to await the announcement of who would place and move on to Regionals. Only first and second place winners of each category whose exhibits showed  both creativity as well as extensive research would move on.

“This is a national program,” said coordinator, history teacher Cathleen Boivin. “It is also a US-wide initiative, tied to Nation Council Studies Curriculum.”

For NHD, students choose related topics to an annual theme and conduct primary and secondary source research. The theme for 2011 was Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences.

“At first I thought it was going to be a rigorous process, but I enjoyed it,” said Ben Koses, the first place winner for performance.

Koses wasn’t the only one who managed to create an impressive project. Like other winners sophomore Christian Taubenberger who won first place for his historical paper on the Treaty of Paris, as well as sophomores Jared Vallejos and Sam Gadway on their documentary on the Versailles Treaty. The Congress of Vienna and the Revolutions for the 19th century was a website created by Alex Moree and Patrick Keally that took first place.

In the categories of individual and group exhibits winners Abbie Walker, for her 1980’2 Olympic Boycott as well as Alyssa Debra, Danielle Haffer and Andy Chen winning for their exhibit on the Melting Pot. Even though not everyone was a winner there were still many extraordinary projects.

“It made me feel accomplished even though I didn’t win,” said sophomore Beth Lindenblad who was in the group exhibit.

Every year, World History 2 Honors and AP World students participate in NHD, with more than half a million other students. Winners will move on to the Regional level where winners compete for the final stretch to Nationals.

“This teaches students research skills, how to analyze information, it’s all a process of interpretation” said History teacher Brian Plancich.

One of the most rewarding aspects of NHD is potentially winning, and having a great learning experience many people who participate feel it to be a fulfilling learning process. NHD teaches essential historical literacy that motivates students to secure the future of democracy.

“It really was a nice payoff, [winning], after such a long project,” said sophomore Abbie Walker. “I also think that it’s good experience for college.”