Moose Lake History Club: History Day STATE 2012!!!!

Yesterday was the National History Day State Competition for Minnesota. It was held at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in various buildings. Moose Lake had six students who received scores that were high enough to make it to state. This is a huge feat in itself as 30,000 students participate in regional events and only 1,200 advance to state. State is similar to regionals as the girls had to present their topics and answer judges questions. It was quite a long day as we left ML at 830am and returned home at 1030pm.
Nicole Tekippe was one of hundreds who presented an exhibit board. It was a beautifully done project titled, "Red Scare: American Reaction to Communism in the 1920s." Feel free to stop into my room and check it out! Although this was the second year Moose Lake participated in History Day events it was the first year we had students create performance and documentary projects. Judging for these projects is intense as there are second and final round judging. Both groups advanced to FINAL ROUNDS!!!!!! Everyone was extremely excited.
The awards ceremony was held at Williams Arena. First and Second place projects move onto the National History Day competition held in DC. They also give medals to third, fourth and fifth. Those that made finals (only a select few made it to finals) but didn't place in the top 5 receive honorable mention medals. There were also organizations who sent topical judges to the event and students are awarded with topical prizes.
For the first time, we had groups PLACE!!! The performance by Ellie Riihiluoma, Maddie Geil and Maddie Ross titled "Dorthea Dix: Improving Conditions for the Insane Worldwide" won 4th place (just two away from nationals!). The documentary, "A Burning Rebirth: The 1918 Fire of Moose Lake" by Leah Westmoreland and Lauren Ross received an Honorable Mentionas well as a topical prize (money!) from a trust set up by a group of families from Minnesota. Words can't describe how proud I am of all of these girls who managed to do some amazing things in their FIRST History Day competition. So, thank you to the parents, teachers, Moose Lake Historical Society, school and everyone else who let me steal them from their classes, paid for various items and supported us. It definitely paid off!!!