Minnesota History Day Students Receive Special Awards in 25+ Categories from Immigration History to Business History at State Competition

At the Minnesota State History Day competition at the University of Minnesota last weekend, several History Day students received special topical awards, internships with MNHS History Day staff and a college scholarship for their exhibits, documentaries, papers, websites and performances. Several teachers were also honored for their work with history students.

African-American Women in History

This award honors entries focusing on African-American history.

Sponsor: Community Outreach Committee, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

• Maisie DeGrote, Maddie Gau, “Alice Coachman's Triumph: Winning Gold and Crushing Discrimination,” junior group exhibit, Keewaydin Community School, Minneapolis

• Zaraia Fabunmi, “Perpetrated Silence,” senior individual website, South High School, Minneapolis

America Before the Revolutionary War

This award honors entries focused on American history before the Revolutionary War.

Sponsor: National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Minnesota

• Fayte Saxowsky, Isabella Coccoluto, “The Salem Witch Trials,” junior group performance, Delano Middle School, Delano

• Anna Bomar, Josie LaMere, Tess Saindon, “Phyllis Wheatley: Tragedy turned Triumph, Slave turned Poetry Extraordinaire,” junior group performance, Anthony Middle School, Minneapolis

• Gavin Waller, Matthew Hanson, “Tisquantum (Squanto) and Mayflower Pilgrims,” junior group exhibit, Blackduck Public Schools, Blackduck

American Indian History

This award honors entries that demonstrate the importance of Native American individuals, organizations or nations to history.

Sponsor: Minnesota Historical Society

• Elizabeth Nordin, “Native American Boarding Schools,” junior individual website, Fridley Middle School, Fridley

• Katrina Ducheneaux, “Native Americans’ Path to Citizenship,” senior individual exhibit, Bug O Nay Ge Shig School, Bena

American Women in History

This award honors entries focusing on the history of American women as connected to the National History Day theme.

Sponsor: Community Outreach Committee, Woman’s Club of Minneapolis

• Elizabeth Dohrer, “Amelia Earhart Breaks Gender Barriers,” junior individual documentary, Open World Learning Community, St. Paul

• Sam Kellar-Long, Mae Wrigley, “Torches of Freedom: A Triumph for Cigarette Advertising,” senior group performance, Open World Learning Community, St. Paul

Civil War History

This award honors entries focused on Minnesota’s role in the war and Civil War military history.

Sponsors: First Regiment of Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Inc. and the Twin Cities Civil War Round Table

• Naomi Kempcke, Maddy Schilling, “The Triumph and Tragedies of a Runaway Slave,” junior group website, Murray Middle School, St. Paul

• Ann Strong, “Fugitive Slaves,” senior individual website, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul

Europe Before 1914

This award honors entries focused on a historical event or development taking place in Europe between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the outbreak of World War I, during the period from 476 CE to 1914 CE.

Sponsors: Steven Potach and Judith Horn

• Adalyn Raney, Pearl Jain, Kira Gorrila, “A Dance of Death,” junior group performance, Central Middle School, Eden Prairie

• Emily Koppendrayer, “Elizabeth Bathory: The Countess Dracula,” senior individual performance, Avalon School, St. Paul

Global Studies

This award honors entries examining history outside of the United States.

Sponsor: University of Minnesota’s Institute for Global Studies

• Tara Thomsen, Ricardo Wang-Polendo, “Missing Siblings of China: The One Child Policy,” junior group documentary, Parkview Center School, Roseville

• Maya Adelgren, “Wangari Maathai: Planting Seeds of Change,” senior individual exhibit, DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis

History Day Scholarship

This college scholarship to the University of Minnesota is sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts.

• Che Ther Vang, “American's Abandon CIA Soldiers,” senior group documentary, Highland Park Senior High School, St. Paul

History of Austria and East Central Europe

This award honors entries focusing on Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine or countries of the former Yugoslavia.

Sponsor: University of Minnesota’s Center for Austrian Studies

• Tess Campion, Willa Campion, “Poland's Solidarity Movement: A Triumph for Democracy,” junior group documentary, Open World Learning Community, St. Paul

• Bezawit Abate, Tea Roepke, Jamila Mohammed, “Hedy Lamarr: The Unknown Mind of the Beautiful Actress,” senior group website, South High School, Minneapolis

History of Exploration from 500 CE to 1825 CE

This award honors entries focused on the impact of exploration between 500 and 1825 CE.

Sponsor: Associates of the James Ford Bell Library, University of Minnesota

• Sophie Rogers and Genet Gagnon, “Thomas Jefferson's Effect on Slavery,” junior group exhibit, Salk Middle School, Elk River

• Gabriel Chang-Deutsch, “Triumph and Tragedy in Metis Resistance to Canadian Domination in Manitoba 1868-1870,” senior paper, South High School, Minneapolis

History of Women’s Suffrage

This award honors entries focused on the history of women’s suffrage in the United States.

Sponsor: MN 2020 Suffrage Centennial

• Abigail Sikora, “The Seneca Falls Convention,” junior individual website, Linwood Monroe Arts Plus, St. Paul

• Cat Peters, “Susan B. Anthony: One Vote One Story,” senior individual performance, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul

Holocaust History

This award honors entries focused on a significant event or development that took place in Europe between 1933-1949 that led to or contributed to the events of the Holocaust.

Sponsor: Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas

• Olivia Busch, “Mother to the Holocaust Children: Irena Sendler's Triumphant Preservation of Jewish Generations,” junior individual performance, Oak Grove Middle School, Bloomington

• Noah Kuklinski, Annabel Boedecker, “IBM's Role in the Holocaust,” senior group website, South High School, Minneapolis

Immigration History

This award honors entries focused on the history of immigrants, particularly using the collections at the Immigration History Research Center and Archives.

Sponsor: Friends of the Immigration History Research Center and Archives, University of Minnesota

• Daniel Jungwirth, Kumail Akram, “Partition of India,” junior group performance, Buffalo Middle School, Buffalo

• Erin Grube, “Triumphing Over Tragedy: Minnesota's Somali Community,” junior individual documentary, Keewaydin Community School, Minneapolis

• Vivian Pham, “A Journey to Freedom: The Vietnamese Boat People,” senior individual documentary, DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis

Kurtzman History Day Internships

Interns will work with History Day staff on summer programming and take part in the Minnesota Historical Society intern cohort.

Sponsors: Ralph and Virginia Kurtzman

• Grace Philippon, Central High School, St. Paul

• Sam Skinner, Central High School, St. Paul

Labor History

This award honors entries focused on labor history.

Sponsors: Minneapolis Labor Review, St. Paul Union Advocate, University of Minnesota’s Labor Education Service

• Gabe Napierala, Charlie Power Theisen, “The Hormel P-9 Strike,” junior group performance, Murray Middle School, St. Paul

• Eliana Castor, Amy Watters, Brielle Sunde, “Radium Girls,” junior group performance, Twin Oaks Middle School, Prior Lake

• Lalitha Gunturi, Jasmine Garry, “The Sparks that Led to Flames of Historic Change: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire,” junior group documentary, Central Middle School, Eden Prairie

• Dinkenesh Kendrick, Kayla Thammalangsy, “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire,” junior group documentary, Seward Montessori School, Minneapolis

• Nora Zak, Charlotte Lempka, “Lewis Hine: The Anonymous Lifeblood of the Child Labor Revolution,” junior group documentary, Salk Middle School, Elk River

• Jocelyn Dale, Jessica Wagner, “Extra! Extra! Street Rats Fight Back! Newsboys Triumph: New Laws for Working Children,” senior group exhibit, North Lakes Academy, Forest Lake

• Alma Ratliff, Jakalyn Frazier, “Milford Mine Disaster,” junior group exhibit, Minneapolis

• Olivia Berhow, “Dorothy Haner: Winona's First Female Investigator,” junior individual exhibit, Winona Middle School, Winona

LGBTQ History

This award honors entries focused on LGTBQ history, with a preference for unique and intersectional topics.

Sponsor: Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life, University of Minnesota's Steven J. Schochet Endowment for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies

• Benjamin Peterson, “The Assassination of Harvey Milk,” junior individual documentary, Sanford Middle School, Minneapolis

• Isabella Spiess, “ACT UP: People Like Me,” senior individual performance, South High School, Minneapolis

Minneapolis History

This award honors entries focused on events or issues related to the history of Minneapolis.

Sponsor: Linden Hills Study Group and the Hennepin History Museum

• Siri Pattison, “Tragedy at Home: The Dinkytown Riots of 1972,” junior individual documentary, Murray Middle School, St. Paul

• Deirdre O'Neill, “From Perpetuating Decline to Celebrating Diversity: The Midtown Exchange's Effect on Minneapolis,” senior paper, Breck School, Golden Valley

Minnesota History

This award honors entries on events or issues related to the history of Minnesota.

Sponsor: Northern Lights textbook, Minnesota Historical Society

• Maximiliano Uribe, “Hung on the Prairie: The Biggest Mass Hanging in US History,” junior individual website, Winona Middle School, Winona

• Jakob Goelden, “Dakota War of 1862,” junior individual exhibit, Twin Cities German Immersion School, St. Paul

Minnesota History Paper Award

Sponsor: Minnesota History Magazine, Minnesota Historical Society

• Deirdre O'Neill, “The Midtown Exchange's Effect on Minneapolis,” senior paper, Breck School, Golden Valley

Minnesota’s Laws and Courts

This award honors entries on contributions of the judiciary to the state of Minnesota.

Sponsor: Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society

• Annika Culver, Greta Seppanen, “Karen's Fight to Bring Sharon Home,” junior group documentary, Murray Middle School, St. Paul

• Noah Sullivan, “A Twist of Triumph and Tragedy in Lake Superior,” junior individual performance, Murray Middle School, St. Paul

Quantitative History

This award honors entries demonstrating use or creation of quantitative methods in developing historical arguments, including graphics, statistics, charts, etc.

Sponsor: Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota

• Andrea Li, Naina Perumalachetty, “Birth of The First National Park,” junior group website, Math and Science Academy, Woodbury

Raoul Wallenberg Prize in Humanitarian History

This award honors entries focused on a person or group who made a significant historical contribution with their work to improve the welfare of others.

Sponsor: American Swedish Institute

• Mabel Kester, Poppy Lowenthal Walsh, “The Orphan Train Movement: Riding the Trails to a New Life,” junior group website, Justice Page Middle School, Minneapolis

• Olivia Bratzel, “The People's Princess: Lady Di: Triumphing Over her Personal Tragedies,” senior individual performance, CHOF School, St. Paul

Susie Elewell Memorial Prize for Educational History

This award honors entries that explore the history of education.

Sponsor: Ralph and Virginia Kurtzman

• Britta Sevcik, “Knowledge Gained Culture Lost: Native American Boarding Schools,” junior individual performance, Kenwood Trail Middle School, Lakeville

• Max Lopez, “1968 LA Walkouts: Triumph in Opportunity for Chicanos,” senior individual performance, Washington Technology Magnet School, St. Paul

Tallmadge and Geo. H. Elwell Memorial Prize for Environmental History

This award honors entries focusing on destruction or conservation of the natural environment, which may be biological, geological, archaeological or other historic events.

Sponsors: Ralph and Virginia Kurtzman

• Alice Wagner-Hemstad, Kai Sackreiter, “Reserve Mining Company v. United States: A Triumph for Environmental Policy,” junior group website, Murray Middle School, St. Paul

• Albert Dohrer, “Aldo Leopold: Triumphs and Tragedies in the Preservation of Wilderness,” senior individual documentary, Open World Learning Community, St. Paul

Teacher Award Winners

• Teacher of Merit Junior Division: Ron Hustvedt, Salk Middle School, Elk River

• Teacher of Merit Senior Division: Christopher Stewart, North Lakes Academy, Forest Lake

• Library/Media Teacher of Merit: Minitex, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

• Team Teachers of Merit: South High School, Minneapolis Public Schools

U.S. Business History

This award honors entries focused on the history of business in the United States between 1852-1930.

Sponsor: Wells Fargo Foundation

• Henry Whelan, “James J. Hill: Triumphant Tycoon,” junior individual performance, Central Middle School, White Bear Lake

• Abigail Peterson, “Stomaching America: Tragedies and Triumphs of’ ‘The Jungle,’” senior individual website, North Lakes Academy, Forest Lake

Use of MNHS Collections

This award honors entries utilizing primary source materials from the Minnesota Historical Society collections, with a preference for those using collections as source material and not merely for illustrative purposes.

Sponsor: Gale Family Library and Minnesota Historical Society

• Sasha Allen, “Turning the Tide: Glen Lake Sanatorium's Crusade to Conquer Tuberculosis,” junior individual documentary, Central Middle School, Eden Prairie

• Iris Carroll, “The Minnesota Experimental City: A Triumph of Ideas,” senior individual documentary, Open World Learning Community, St. Paul

About National History Day in Minnesota

National History Day in Minnesota is a cocurricular historical research program that builds college readiness and communication skills for middle and high school students. 27,000 students from over 250 schools participate in Minnesota each year. The program in Minnesota is a partnership of the Minnesota HistoricalSociety and the University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts.

Program support is also provided by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. For more information, visit education.mnhs.org/historyday.

The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history. Visit us at mnhs.org.

The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partner: Explore Minnesota Tourism.