INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) on Monday announced students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful Northeast region contest on Saturday.
The contest included students from Allen, DeKalb, Kosciusko, Noble, St. Joseph and Whitley counties.
Approximately 138 students took part in Saturday’s contest at Columbia City High School, with finalists advancing to the 2024 NHDI State Contest on April 20 at Marian University in Indianapolis, according to a news release from the Indiana Historical Society.
The 2024 Northeast region contest finalists, project categories, school names and project names are:
• Olivia Ganser, Lakeview Middle School, junior individual documentary, “Turning a Death Sentence into a New Opportunity One Name at a Time.”
• Alexander Christopher, Lakeview Middle School, junior individual exhibit, “Turning Opinions: Bob Dylan.”
• Bryson Severn, David Walker, Oden Hucks, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, junior group exhibit, “Assassination of Franz Ferdinand.”
• Abigail Heckaman, Caitlyn Farley, Mckenna Carter, Tessa Rich, junior group exhibit, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, “The Great Depression.”
• Aaron Cooper, Drew Evans, junior group exhibit, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, “D-Day Invasion.”
NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana's schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject that fits under the annual theme. This year’s theme is “Turning Points in History.” Students use their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. To reach the 2024 NHDI State Contest, to be held at Marian University on April 20, students must qualify at one of six regional contests.
NHDI is a project-based, inquiry-based program which encourages students to explore their own passions by conducting research, developing research questions, and then exhibit their individual learning styles through the creation of exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers and websites.
Educators and students alike use NHDI because it allows them to build critical thinking, inquiry, analysis and presentation skills through subjects the students are passionate about, the news release states. Whether students create mini projects in class or go all the way to regional and state contests, educators and students share in control of the project.
NHDI is presented by Indiana Constructors Inc., with support from Rooker Family Foundation and Vigran Family Foundation and made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more information, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call 317-232-1882.