Parents of eighth-grade students gathered at the Independence Middle School Café and Media Center on Friday, February 21, for a special National History Day (NHD) Viewing event. The showcase, held from 7:45 AM to 8:30 AM, provided an opportunity for students to present their history projects centered around this year’s National History Day theme of “Rights and Responsibilities in History”. This project was a collaboration between Mrs. Vecchio’s ELA classes and Mrs. Satola’s U.S. History classes that spanned 3 months of researching, writing, creating a final project, and presenting their work to their peers.
The event allowed students to display their research and creativity, offering parents a firsthand look at their hard work. Presentations ranged from performances to exhibits, each highlighting historical moments and figures that have shaped society. Students had the opportunity to choose to work individually or with a partner, along with choosing a topic that they were interested in revolving around NHD’s yearly theme.
“The students have put in a tremendous amount of effort into their projects,” said Mrs. Satola. Mrs. Vecchio added, “This showcase is a great way for them to practice their research, analysis, and presentation skills while sharing their knowledge with the community.”
The NHD Viewing event is part of a larger initiative to encourage historical inquiry and critical thinking among students. By researching historical topics related to the theme of “Rights and Responsibilities in History”, students not only deepen their understanding of history but have to show an understanding of their topic’s historical context, significance in history, and impact on our world today.
Finally, students were given the opportunity to qualify their project for the National History Day Regional Competition in Cleveland on March 1. Students Lucy Lu, Jules Cherny, Hailey Kestranek, and Emilia Mikolic competed in the Ohio History Day Region 3 contest held at the Cleveland History Center. Mikolic had an Individual Performance, while Lu, Cherny, and Kestranek had Individual Exhibits. Kestranek also received Honorable Mention for her exhibit titled “The Secret Story of Books.” She will advance to the state level contest held at Capital University in Columbus on April 26th.
“NHD provided me with the skills and experiences involved with big projects that I can use in the future. Although parts of the project were difficult at times, I enjoyed learning about a topic I am interested in and being able to stand back and admire something I researched and worked on for months. Going to competition with my friends was an unforgettable experience that I thoroughly enjoyed,” said Hailey Kestranek.
