Eight students at Genoa and Walnut Springs middle schools were awarded for their projects in the Ohio History Day competition, with one student advancing to the National History Day contest in June at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.
Cambria Hudberg, a sixth-grader at Genoa, will represent Westerville City Schools in the national competition with her junior individual exhibit, “The Painful Discovery of Anesthesia.” Hudberg is a student in Lori Howland’s class who worked with Genoa media specialist Deanna McDaniel.
Three WCSD middle school students received special awards for their research:
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Genoa eighth-graders Maya Vazhkudai and Kaya Amin received the Ohio Women in Government Award for their performance, “A Landmark Case: Roe v. Wade.” Both are students in Leslie Thompson’s class who worked with McDaniel.
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Walnut Springs’ seventh-grader Fraser Hartnell received the Pro Football Hall of Fame History Award for his exhibit, “Michigan State’s ‘Underground Railroad’ Forges New Frontiers in College Athletics and American Society.” His teachers are Lauren Griffin and Jeffrey Holmes.
Four students placed third in their categories at the statewide contest, including:
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Genoa eighth-graders Annie Rao and Candice Pho for their documentary, “Wall of Legacy.” Both are students in Leslie Thompson’s class with help from McDaniel.
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Genoa seventh-graders Cameron Cooper and Kelsey Thompson for their exhibit, “All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.” Both are students in Caitlin Begeny’s class with help from McDaniel.
During the state contest on April 22 at Ohio Wesleyan University, McDaniel was also recognized as a nominee for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award. The award recognizes educators who demonstrate a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through the innovative use of primary sources, implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills and participation in the National History Day Contest.
Research and projects were created following this year’s theme: “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” More than 400 students in more than 40 schools throughout Ohio competed in the statewide contest.