By James Windell
When the South Haven History Club went to the State competition for National History Day recently, they garnered lots of compliments.
“There were a lot of compliments given to me that South Haven students really represent themselves well,” Julie Sheppard, the South Haven History Club teacher, said in a recent interview. “People appreciated how professional and well-spoken the students always are and they said how the students always have it together. Others told us how they appreciate everything that we are doing and how we involve our community.”
Maybe if that’s all Sheppard and her students came home with from the state tournament held in April at Saginaw Valley State University, that would be enough.
But the South Haven History Club, made up of students from the 4th grade through the 12th grade, have a history of producing excellent National History Day champions and awards. And, as is customary, the History Club returned home with several awards.
“All of the students presented extremely well,” Sheppard said. “This was a really big competition this year and it was bigger than ever before with nearly 600 students competing.”
Sheppard, who has been the teacher running the History Club for the past 17 years, said her students won several awards and recognition various categories and next month, for the 17th consecutive year, several will be going to the National Historv Day contest at the University of Maryland.
Those students going to Nationals in the Junior Division include Ava Martinez and Delanie Dyer for their winning performance entitled “Revolutionary War Women.” Also headed to Maryland are Kora Miller and Emma O´Neil for their performance of “A Quiet Revolution: The Life of Elizabeth Schuyler.”
Among the seniors, Owen Burleson will be taking his exhibit “Buried in Fear: Reaction and Reform in 1950’s America” to the Nationals, and Ruby Peterson’s performance of “The Venona Project,” will also be there. And, Hayden Washegesic’s “The Battle of Greasy Grass” will be competing at the national level.
Sheppard had kudos for Youth Division State winners, who do not, however, get to go to the Nationals. Coming in second place for Group Documentary was “Michael Jackson and how He Revolutionized the World of Music” by Gianna Dailey, Ava Marbury, Isabella Scuiletti, and Jh’Vonn Carter. Also finishing in Second Place for Group Performance was “Gettysburg” with Adelheid Washington, Aurora Zody, Margo Miller, and Keniyha Cannon. Ashlynn Hosier’s “Worker’s United: Bloody Harlan” finished in third place for Individual Exhibits.
According to Sheppard, some of the student projects won special state awards. “We had the best entry for Use of Family History that went to Ashlynn Hosier for her individual exhibit on the miner’s strike called Workers United,” she said. She also noted that Madisyn Lapinski won The Adler Award for Best Entry in Women’s History for her documentary on Kathrine Switzer.
Prior to the National competition, the History Club will be doing local presentations. On Thursday May 5, they will be presenting at the Scott Club, and on May 8 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm all of the students will be showing their work at the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum. They will also reprise their work on May 13 at 6:00 pm at the South Haven Memorial Library. Then there is the Red Carpet Awards on May 15 at Listiak Auditorium at 5:30 pm which Julie Sheppard puts on each year to give out special awards to History Club students.
With the students headed off to the Nationals on June 14, Sheppard says they desperately need help to go to Nationals. “Prices for students attending Nationals have really gone up,” Sheppard said, “and we need to raise funds quickly so our students can go.”
Donations can be sent to North Shore Elementary School or sent to Julie Sheppard at Venmo@Julie-Shepoard-22 or to PayPal@JulieSheppard753.
