Over 250 middle school and high school students along with 90 volunteers converged on campus Monday to go beyond standard expectations of scholarship and present about leaders of the American past.
After a visit to Ohio and seeing National History Day first hand 35 years ago, retired historian Dave Kathka, decided to help introduce a history day to his own state, said Wyoming History Day Coordinator Dick Kean.
“Wyoming History Day recognizes academic scholarship,” said Kean. “It also rewards them for going beyond what they normally do.”
These rewards come in the form of special awards and college scholarships, said Kean. A $3,000 scholarship is donated by Taco John’s international and the Wyoming State Historical Society donates $1,500. Both can be used for enrollment at any Wyoming college. The American Heritage Center and the University of Wyoming Office of Academic Affairs donates a $1,000 scholarship to a student applicable only at UW, said Kean. There are also several special awards given based on judges decision.
Kathka comes back year after year to judge presentations and performances after introducing the event 35 years ago.
“The judges do realize how important it is to these students,” said Kathka. “We try very hard to get it right, you can have two that are arguably the best, but we have to make a decision. We also have to think who is going to best represent Wyoming.”
There is potential for 50 to 90 students to go to National History Day in Washington D.C. in June, said Katelyn Barber, a sophomore family and consumer science major who assists with Wyoming History Day.
Those selected are notified during the awards ceremony at the end of the day; Kean said this is his favorite part of the day.
“You get to see their faces light up,” said Kean. “And watching who places is really fun.”
Autumn Sherder, 12, a seventh grader homeschooled in Laramie said she is vying for a spot on the flight to National History Day.
“I’m doing individual performance,” said Sherder. The man Sherder decided to portray in her performance, Mr. Suzuki, is still alive today. Last year she went to state in group performance and hopes to return with her own work.
Alexis Fontaine, 13, a seventh grader from Lander who competed in group exhibit with Abigail Renner, said she hopes that she gets to go to National History Day, as well.
“We want to qualify, but there are so many good boards this year,” said Fontaine. “My teacher said that most of the boards here are the best she’s ever seen.”
Though there are awards for only a portion of the participants everyone benefits, said Kathka.
“These kids might not always be in sports,” said Kathka. “So through history day they can experience loosing and winning when they might not usually get to.”
