On Saturday,
May 6th, students from West Morris Central High School,
a Gilder Lehrman school in Chester, New Jersey, took
home a host of awards from the New Jersey History Day
competition held at William Paterson University. The
theme for this year’s competition was “Taking
a Stand in History.” Nearly sixty students from
the school’s Gilder Lehrman program competed.
They are all sophomores taking United States History
I.
"I was so excited about the results of the competition,"
said Rosanne Lichatin, Lead Teacher in the Social Studies
Department at West Morris Central High School. “However,
the most valuable experience for me was to watch students
as they explored and researched topics of interest in
American History. All of the participants benefited
from the experience. They were able to appreciate the
work of a historian as they worked with primary sources
to develop their papers and projects. Students also
were required to answer questions posed by history professors.
It was so rewarding to hear my students clearly articulate
their research methods and the value of working with
original documents."
Melissa Kenny took First Prize in the Research Paper
category for her paper on the Lowell Mill Girls, textile
factory workers in nineteenth century Massachusetts.
Gregory Yakimec took Second Prize in the Research Paper
category for his paper on Virginia statesman and Founding
Father George Mason.
In the Group Documentary category, Maggie Griebert,
Jennifer Samples, Meghan Rathbun, and Kerry Miles took
Second Place for their film, "A Vote that Changed
the Nation," about Susan B. Anthony and the women’s
suffrage movement.
Warren Ferrante took Third Place in the Individual Documentary
category for his oral history about Captain Vincent
Vicari, who served during the Battle of the Bulge in
the 101st Airborne Division.
First Place and Second Place winners will compete at
the National History Day competition held at the University
of Maryland in June.
West Morris Central High School is a Gilder Lehrman
history school. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American
History sponsors 31 history schools and 14 Saturday
academies nationwide. Gilder Lehrman history schools
are rigorous, college-preparatory schools centered on
American history. They have a track record of raising
test scores and sending more than 90 percent of graduating
seniors to college. At the core of these schools is
a four-year sequence of courses in American history.
In many of these schools, the entire student body participates
in the Gilder Lehrman program. In other schools, including
West Morris Central High School, a select portion of
the student body participates.
For more information on Gilder Lehrman History Schools,
visit:
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/history2.html
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