Top Student Historians Honored at Connecticut History Day Contest

New Britain, CT – Connecticut’s top student historians were honored on Saturday, May 9 at the Connecticut History Day Contest, which took place at Central Connecticut State University. Over 400 students competed in the annual contest, which determines who will make up the Connecticut Delegation at the National History Day Contest scheduled to take place at the University of Maryland in June.

This year, students presented their projects, based on the 2015 History Day theme of Leadership and Legacy in History, in one of five categories – either as an individual or as a group. History Day categories include exhibits, papers, performances, websites and documentaries. To qualify for the Connecticut History Day Contest, students must have placed within the top three in their category at their Regional Contest. The six Regional Contests, which are based in Hartford, Torrington, Manchester, New Haven, Fairfield and Mansfield, took place throughout March.

Students who placed first or second in their respective categories at the State Contest have been invited to represent Connecticut at the National History Day Contest where over 2,500 students from across the United States will compete for prizes and scholarships. Nearly 30 special prizes, sponsored by various Connecticut groups and organizations, were awarded to students as well. Each of the first place winners and their teachers received a free subscription to Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut History.

History Day teachers were also honored at the State Contest. The Patricia Behring Connecticut Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Sharon Wlodarczyk of Southbury (Junior Division) and Al Meadows of Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven (Senior Division). The History Channel Award was presented to Alice Warren, an educator at Fairfield Woods Middle School in Fairfield.

More than one hundred local historians, educators, museum professionals and history lovers served as judges at this year’s State Contest. The First Company of the Governor’s Foot Guard provided a rousing start to the Award Ceremony, where hundreds of students waited eagerly to hear the results from the day. State Historian Dr. Walter Woodward, new Education Commissioner Dianna Wentzell and Stephen Armstrong of the State Department of Education assisted in congratulating all the students and presenting awards to the winners.

History Day in Connecticut is one of 56 affiliate programs of National History Day. It is led by Connecticut’s Old State House, with support from the Connecticut Historical Society, the Connecticut League of History Organizations and the www.ConnecticutHistory.org website. Major funding is provided by Connecticut Humanities.

F
Submitted by Fairfield, CT

Become a Local Voice in Your Community!

HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected.

Read Next