Middle and high school students from across central Nebraska met at Hastings College for the district History Day contest. According to information provided from Hastings College, the 2016 theme, Leadership and Legacy in History, students presented research on a variety of topics, including the Hastings Regional Center, Special Olympics and the Civil Rights Movement.
Hastings Senior High showed dominance in the district competition. Social studies teachers Ann Mays, David Johnson, and Roger Sunderman sponsored along with librarian Faye Friesen. All these teachers strongly encouraged their students to participate in this yearly competition.
“District History Day allows kids to show off what they’ve learned and gives them a look at their communication skills and futures their individual confidence skills.” Johnson said aq , “I have pride in my students when seeing them in front of the judges answering questions with ease.”
Many Hastings High students won in their individual competitions with four students receiving scholarships, the results are listed below.
Senior Lindsey LaBrie received a $6,000 grand prize scholarship to Hastings College for presenting the top individual documentary at the College’s district History Day competition. Labrie’s project was titled “Youth for Understanding: An Exchange Program That Has Shaped The World.”
The $5,000 first runner up scholarship went to juniors Savannah Deboer and Courtney Junker. Their project was titled “Exploring the Face of Depression with the FSA Photographers.”
Junior Jordan Ismaiel was second runner-up and received a $4000 scholarship. His project was titled “Rachel Carson: How One Woman Changed the World.”
Winners from each event advance to the state History Day competition, to be held April 16, while high school seniors were also eligible for competitive history scholarships to attend Hastings College.
- Top Award Recipients
- Junior Division (grades 6-8)
- Individual performance – Ellie Janda, Blue Hill
- Group exhibit – Ellie Norlen and Taylor Lockling, Hastings Middle School
- Group performance – Erika Nielsen and Sadye Bell, Hastings Middle School
- Seniors Division (grades 9-12)
- Individual website – Jordan Ismaiel, Hastings High School
- Group documentary – Lucy Nielsen and Chyna Delker, Hastings High School
- Individual documentary – Lindsey Labrie, Hastings High School
- Individual performance – Zoe Emons, Hastings High School
- Group exhibit – Savanah Deboer and Coutrney Junker, Hastings High School
- Individual exhibit – Kaila Avent, Hastings High School
- Individual historical paper – Skyler Ballou, Hastings High School
- Group performance – Emily Block, Jazmin Serrano, Joey Murphy, and Armando Bautista – Hastings High School
- Junior Division (grades 6-8)
