FOR THE BECKS, NHD IS A FAMILY AFFAIR
At the 2023 New Mexico State National History Day contest, four brothers from Silver City took home first place medals: Anson Beck in senior group website, Isaac Beck in Senior Group Documentary, Joshua Beck in Senior Individual Documentary, and Jonathan Beck in Junior Group Website. Isaac and Jo…
N.M. STUDENTS BRING HOME AWARDS FROM THE NATIONAL NHD CONTEST
National History Day announced this year’s prize winners on Thursday, June 15, at the 2023 National Contest awards ceremony, held in person for the first time in four years. More than 2,600 students and 600 teachers attended the National Contest, which took place on the university campus in College Park, Md., from June 10–15. The ceremony was the culmination, not only of the week-long contest, but also of a year of student research, project creation, and competition.
New Mexico students competed well, with McKenzie Satterfield and Aubrey Shelby of Moriarty High School in Moriarty, N.M., placing second in senior group exhibit; Heights Middle School in Farmington, N.M., students Genevieve Petersen and Grace McWilliams receiving the junior award for outstanding entry in the History of the Physical Sciences & Technology; and students Elizabeth McDonald, Isaac Beck and Kylee Jones of Silver High in Silver City, N.M., taking home the award for United States Marine Corps History.
“We are incredibly proud of the 62 New Mexico students who competed at the national contest this year,” said state coordinator Heather McClenahan. “They learned so much while working on their projects, had a blast exploring the nation’s capital and meeting their competitors, and they showed why our motto is ‘Fear the chile!’”
During the 2022–2023 school year, over half a million students globally completed projects centered around the theme, Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas, in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Throughout the spring, students competed in a series of contests beginning at the local level. The top students from all 50 states, Washington D.C., U.S. territories, and international schools were invited to compete in the National Contest.
“It’s great to be back in person after three years of virtual contests,” said NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “Every year, NHD students surprise and inspire me with their enthusiasm, innovative thinking, and tireless research. The analytical skills they have cultivated will stand them in good stead for their future educational endeavors. Congratulations to the over half a million students globally who participated and to the thousands of teachers who guided them.” More than 400 historians and education professionals served as judges for the students’ work. $150,000 in scholarships were awarded at the national awards ceremony, and over 100 students took home cash prizes between $250 and $1,000 for superior work.
N.M. STUDENT PROJECT SELECTED FOR SHOWCASE AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY
Lillah Berkson, a 7th grade student at Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy in Las Cruces, will have her National History Day exhibit featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History on Wednesday, June 14.
National History Day is a year-long academic program focused on historical research, interpretation and creative expression for sixth to twelfth-grade students. By participating in NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights, and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history. The experience culminates in a series of contests at the local and affiliate levels and an annual national competition in the nation’s capital in June.
Next week, 2,649 students from 54 NHD affiliates will arrive in College Park, Maryland to compete at the NHD National Contest. These students were mentored by 1,114 teachers.
NHD Exhibit Showcase at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
Title: Adolf Hitler: A Pioneer Of Propaganda In The Media
Student: Lillah Berkson
Teacher: Morgan Harding
School: Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy (Las Cruces)
Student projects can be viewed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
62 LOCAL STUDENTS AWARDED AT THE STATE COMPETITION
For the first time since the pandemic, 62 students emerged from among their competitors and took top honors at this year’s highly anticipated in-person New Mexico History Day state contest. Nearly 200 mid and high school students gathered from across the state to compete at the University of New Mexico on Saturday, April 15.
APRIL 15TH – NM NATIONAL HISTORY DAY STATE CONTEST AT UNM
After 3 years of hosting National History Day virtually, nearly 200 mid- and high school students from across the state will gather in person on Saturday, April 15th, at the University of New Mexico to compete in the New Mexico National History Day contest.
National History Day is not just a day. It’s a year-long academic program where students choose a topic, conduct research, develop a historical argument or thesis, and create a presentation. They turn their research into projects — a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website — and display them to adult judges in a series of contests from the classroom to the national level. The top two places in every category from the state contest will compete at the national contest at the University of Maryland in June.
“National History Day allows students to delve into stories that they care about and produce quality projects that they can share with others,” says state coordinator Heather McClenahan.
Each year NHD has a theme to guide students’ research. This year’s theme is Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. Students participating in the state contest have chosen topics that range from the Manhattan Project, Santa Fe Trail Pioneer Susan Magoffin, and steam engines to chile farming and novelist Agatha Christie.
In addition to the great work of the students, New Mexico’s NHD teachers of the year will be recognized, and teacher Amy Page of Moriarty High School, who won the national senior teacher of the year award in 2022, will be honored.
A Chautauqua performance by VanAnn Moore as Jessie Benton Fremont will be held before the award ceremony starting at 1:30pm.
With its focus on inquiry, primary source research, and presentation, National History Day aligns with the new state social studies standards that go into effect for the 2023-24 school year. Teachers or school administrators who are interested in learning more should contact state coordinator Heather McClenahan, HistoryDay@NMHumanities.org, for more information.
In New Mexico, the National History Day program is managed by the New Mexico Humanities Council with support from volunteers, the University of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, including the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum and the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
OCTOBER 18TH IS NAMED AMY PAGE DAY, IN MORIARTY NEW MEXICO
Amy Page is being honored by the Moriarty city government, Moriarty High School, and the Moriarty-Edgewood School Board.
Come join us on October 18th to celebrate Amy Page Day and spend time celebrating this local teacher for her contributions to the community and for mentoring many youth historians through the National History Day program locally facilitated by the New Mexico Humanities Council.
Festivities will be hosted at Moriarty High School, Moriarty-Edgewood Central Office Complex located at 2422 East Highway 333 Moriarty, NM 87035.
NEW MEXICO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, MRS. AMY PAGE IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WITH THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
NEW MEXICO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, MRS. AMY PAGE IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WITH THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD WHO: New Mexico high school teacher Amy Page gains national recognitionWHAT: Awarded the 2022 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year for the Senior DivisionCONTACT: New Mexico History Day State Coordinator, Heather McClenahan, HistoryDay@NMHumanities.org. SHARE: On Saturday, June […]