JACK YOUNG MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY STATE EVENT:
THREE PROJECTS CHOSEN TO ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL COMPETITION
Fourteen eighth grade students from Jack Young Middle School took part in the National History Day State competition on Saturday, May 3rd. These students presented their historical research projects at the State event on the UW-Madison campus. At the end of the competition, two projects were chosen per category to represent Wisconsin at the National Competition in June. Three projects from Jack Young Middle School were chosen to advance to Nationals.
From JYMS, Bayleigh Sis and Lydia Zink were chosen for their performance exploring the rights and responsibilities involved in the Black Dahlia murder case in 1940s Los Angeles. Ella Mayer, Audrey Allaby, and Leena Lahti were chosen for their performance about Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel. And, Brianna Smith’s exhibit about the Green River Killer and DNA Evidence was also chosen to advance. It truly is an honor for these students and their work to be able to represent Wisconsin in Washington, D.C.
National History Day is an academic enrichment program for students in grades 6-12. Students select topics connected to an annual theme and complete their own in-depth research on the topic. This year, the annual theme is “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” Students present their conclusions by creating museum-style exhibits, media documentaries, research papers, interactive websites, and dramatic performances. The state event is the third step in a competition cycle that can take students from the school level to regional, state, and national competitions. At each level of competition students share their work with their peers, historians, educators, and professionals in related fields as they compete for special awards and the opportunity to advance to the next level of competition.
In addition to our National Finalists, here are the other students who represented JYMS at the State Competition:
Luna Thao and Ashly Pineda Diaz (Group Exhibit) - Mendez v. Westminster: The Right to an Equal Education
Holden Harry and Laneah Hyzer (Group Performance) - Alexander Hamilton: Responsibilities of Government vs. Individual Rights
Skyler Wills (Individual Website) - Harvey Milk Fighting For The Rights of The LGBTQ+ Community
Kora Smith (Individual Website) - Salem Witch Trials: Judicial Rights and Responsibilities in Colonial Massachusetts
Maddison Litscher and Sara Tews (Group Documentary) - Title IX: Rights and Responsibilities for Women in Education and Sports
Participation in the program continues to grow with more than 500,000 students participating annually across the nation. The National History Day program in Wisconsin is coordinated by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Bayleigh S. and Lydia Z. in costume
Brianna S.’s Exhibit
JYMS National Finalists in the Junior Group Performance Category