NMS Student A Winner

At Annual History Event

Newtown Middle School student Hunter James was one of 345 students who participated in the recent Connecticut History Day, an annual event that is the culmination of the History Day in Connecticut program, on April 30 at Classical Magnet High School in Hartford.

Senator Richard Blumenthal sent a letter of congratulations that was read at the Awards Ceremony.

State competitors were identified from a pool of contestants at five regional contests throughout the state, according to a release. First and second place winners at the state competition will advance to the National History Day contest, set for June 15 through 19 at the University of Maryland at College Park. Additionally, students were awarded one of the 11 donor-sponsored special awards, including the Outstanding Entry in Connecticut History and the Outstanding Entry Related to Civics, Government or Citizenship. A few of the student projects will be featured in the fall issue of Connecticut Explored.

Hunter placed second in the Website Individual division for her submission, “Conflicts of the Constitutional Convention.”

The state competition involved students in grades 6 through 12, with separate categories for the Junior Division (grades 6 through 8) and Senior Division (grades 9 through 12). In each division, there are nine contest categories which provide for individual and group projects in formats ranging from traditional written papers to dramatic performances, documentaries, and exhibits.

Many of the student projects will be on display at Connecticut’s Old State House from June 11 until the end of August.

 National History Day is the nation’s leading educational program for history education in the schools. The program annually engages more than half a million students across the nation. Students research history topics of their choice related to an annual theme and create exhibits, documentaries, performances, and papers, which they may enter in competitions at the district, state, and national levels.

 History Day in Connecticut is jointly sponsored by the Connecticut Historical Society and Connecticut’s Old State House, with funding provided by the Connecticut Humanities Council.