Michigan Students Win Awards at National History Day
June 15, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, MD: Three Michigan students ranked among the top twelve in the country for their entries at National History Day, announced at the closing awards ceremony Thursday in College Park. One of the three was also awarded a prestigious special award for her performance. They were among forty-two students who moved on from the Michigan History Day state finals to the national competition. The theme this year was Triumph and Tragedy in History.
Whitehall Middle School student Alayna Klco and Salem High School Students Linda Ling and Corrine Ghastin ranked in the top twelve, reaching the final round of the National History Day competition June 10-14. This is the first time in several years that Michigan students have made the final round, placing them among the best entries in the country in their category.
Klco was recognized for her junior individual performance “Play Ball! A Triumph for Women Begins Amidst the Tragedy of World War II,” an entry which focused on the creation, success and demise of a Midwestern women’s baseball league during wartime and the years that followed. Ling and Ghastin made the top ranking with their senior group documentary entry “Soweto 1976: A Turning Point for Apartheid,” a detailed look at how the Soweto riots proved critical in the demise of South Africa’s system of racial segregation.
In addition to being a National Finalist, Klco also won the Lee Allen History of Baseball Award, sponsored by the Society of American Baseball Research. The award recognizes the best entry at the national competition relating to baseball that best demonstrates research skills, accuracy and appreciation of the national pastime.
Two entries also were recognized at National History Day for being the best entries from Michigan. Ling and Ghastin were awarded in the Senior category and Forest Hills Northern Middle School student Rachel Gosch of Grand Rapids was named best entry in the Junior category for her junior individual documentary “Cotton Chains for Slaves.”
Over 5,000 students throughout Michigan competed in the state’s history day program this year. Moving through school based and regional competitions, over 225 competed at the state finals held at the Henry Ford in late April. Forty-two were selected to move on to the national competition.
The Michigan History Day (National History Day in Michigan) is an educational program of the Historical Society of Michigan, the state’s oldest cultural organization. Main sponsors of the Michigan History Day include Meijer, The Cook Charitable Foundation, the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, and Alticor. More information on Michigan History Day can be found at www.hsmichigan.org .
