History Day competition set for grades 6 though 12

History Day competition set for grades 6 though 12

Young history buffs from across the region gathered at the Chester County Historical Society in West Chester this week for the kickoff event for National History Day's Southeastern Pennsylvania Competition.

Sixth through 12th graders will be digging up facts on their chosen topics, which they must pick in line with this year's theme of "Conflict and Compromise in History," over the next few months and putting together their presentations for the regional competition, to be held on March 15 at Immaculata University.

Students may show the results of that research either in a research paper, exhibit board, documentary, performance or (new this year) by developing a website. Competition entrants can work in groups on every project option except research papers, which must be done individually.

Prospective competitors came with parents and teachers to the historical society for two hours on the evening of Oct. 23 , where they went over the rules and regulations of the competition, how to research primary and secondary sources, and viewed a documentary by a Bayard Rustin High School student, about Bayard Rustin himself, that finished in the top five at the state competition last year (winners from the regional competition move onto the state level, winners there advance to the national competition).

Those interested in participating in the competition can call Carol Grigson, regional coordinator, at 610-692-4800.

   Will Hobson