It isn’t surprising that students from Patrick Henry High School, listed in the top 5 percent of all high schools in the nation by Newsweek Magazine, would be winners at the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) District History Day competition. What is impressive is the number of students from Patrick Henry selected as winners and are participating in the State History Day competition at the University of Minnesota on April 27. There were 28 Henry High students who were selected as winners; almost double the number of winners from any other high school participating in the district event.
The MPS Regional History Day competition took place on March 15 at South High School. Students who participated were selected as the best from amongst their peers at their home schools. Approximately 500 students from 29 different K-8, middle and high schools participated in the event. “History Day” is a national program which promotes historical research and provides students with a venue for exploring and understanding the importance of history in their lives. This year’s theme was “Conflict and Compromise in History.” Students researched their topic, including writing and supporting a thesis relevant to their topic. In addition to stating when and where events took place, the students are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of why events happened and what the lasting influence of the events are. Michaela Anderson, a Patrick Henry High School student and regional winner, said social studies teacher (Kurt) Oldham really pushed them to do a project that was exceptional. He encouraged them to be thorough and creative. He didn’t accept mediocrity. As a result almost all of his student entries were winners. Across the river at Northeast Middle School, social studies teacher Patti Nelson took the same approach. Last year one group of her students received honorable mention and this year she had three student winners, including two from the Camden community.
Congratulations to Oldham and Nelson for their above and beyond effort to help students achieve. And congratulations to the following students for their award winning history research.
Patrick Henry High School: Group Media Mai Youa Lee and Xao Vang – “The Nanking Massacre”; Brittany Taylor, Christina Rosemeyer and Corey Singleton – “The Public Health Smoking Act of 1969”; Andrea Vang, Macy Vang and Faith Xiong – “The Partition of India”; Michaela Anderson, Bron Malcolm and Senai Mesfin – “The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire”; and Pang Cha Vang, Susan Yang and Amy Morrison – “The Burlingame Treaty & the Chinese Exclusion Act.”
Group Performance Vee Nou Khang, Fong Vang, Nathan Tapp, Barbara Yang and Kam Mahasongkham – “Genghis Khan and the Battle of Xi Xia”; Her Vang, Soua Vang, Jesse Yang and Katrina Xiong – “The Hmong in America.” Individual Display Sara Grauvilardell – “The Falkland Islands: Who is the Rightful Owner?” Group Display Alex Swanson and David Lurvey – “The Soviet-Afghan War”; and Brianna Wilson and Camille Maddox – “The One Drop Rule”
Northeast Middle School: Kieran Eran (Individual Media) – “Nuclear Proliferation”; Elena Anderson and Rumyana Hulmequist (Group Exhibits) – “The Minnesota Eight: Peaceful Warriors.”
Nellie Stone Johnson: Individual Performance Moriah Martinez – “The Great Depression and the CCC.”
Edison High School: Honorable Mention Chaia Xiong, Pawoua Vang and Janice Chang (Group Media) – “Hmong Grave Desecration.”