National History Day competition fuels students’ passion for discovery

Posted on Friday, April 05, 2024

Georgia middle and high school students participating in this month’s National History Day state contest plan to spotlight key people and moments that have made an impact on our country and world.

The state event, which takes place on April 20, will be the third time the college serves as the host for National History Day, an organization celebrating its 50^th anniversary.

“This milestone is an incredible achievement,” said History Professor and National History Day Georgia Co-Affiliate Coordinator Dr. Kevin Shirley. “Born out of Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University history department that was concerned about the decline in the study of humanities, NHD became a global phenomenon in which students stake a claim of ownership in their learning and become historians—engaging in the same process professional historians use to find answers to their questions.”

NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn, who has been involved with the nationwide program for 42 years, said she finds fulfillment every day in her work.

“To be part of a program that is helping future generations become thoughtful citizens is quite profound,” she said. “NHD continues to help young people make sense of the present by understanding the past in order to be part of the future.”

The competition has provided LaGrange College with a platform to reach more students.

“NHD is a living expression of the college’s commitment to service and transformation—in many ways projecting the priorities and values articulated in the college’s mission statement outward—across the state and the region,” Dr. Shirley said.

Senior Hayleigh Sebaugh, who serves as an intern for NHD GA, said this role has given her opportunities to mentor competitors, build connections and even travel to the national contest in Washington, D.C.

“This has been a valuable learning experience,” she said. “As National History Day celebrates its 50th anniversary, I am incredibly grateful to be a part of it.”

This year’s state contest will have 450 students and 257 projects. A total of 130 volunteers will be needed to serve as judges. 

Competitors, working either individually or in a group, will present their projects through one of five media:  Historical Paper, Exhibit, Performance, Documentary or Website. This year’s theme is “Turning Points in History.”

Judges from each category advance the top two state entries to the national contest that will be held June 9-13 at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Since 2014, LC has served as the state co-sponsor of National History Day with Georgia Humanities.

Dr. Shelly Lowe, chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, said NHD has enriched the lives of countless students over the course of its existence.

“For 50 years, National History Day has inspired young people with curiosity about the past and given them the tools to conduct their own historical research,” she said. “The National Endowment for the Humanities is extremely proud to have played a role in National History Day’s growth from a small pilot project into a national program that reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year.”

People interested in serving as a volunteer judge for the state contest can register on the NHD GA website.

 

Campus Notes

• The Film & Media Arts program is accepting submissions for the 2024 LC Film Showcase on Thursday, April 25. The categories are #LCPantherPride Social Media Content, LC student/employee short film and Georgia high school student short film. The types of short films that can be submitted are narrative, documentary and/or experimental short films. Accepted works will be eligible for audience awards distributed at the event. Multiple entries are welcome, but only one entry can be submitted per online form. The deadline is Monday, April 15, at 11:59 p.m.
• Alumni in the Rome area are encouraged to join President Baxter for an evening of college-centered conversations on Thursday, April 11, at 5 p.m., at the home of Joe M’20 and Rebekah Montgomery.
• Prospective students and their families will visit campus for Spring Preview Day on Saturday, April 13. This is the final one for the academic year. For more information, visit the Preview Day website.

 

Collegiate Enrichment

LIVE@LC: Activism: Individual & Community

Monday, April 8

4 p.m., Bailey Room

• Political Science Professor Dr. John Tures will lead a discussion on how to get involved in the community.

BCM Night of Fellowship

Monday, April 8

6:30 p.m., Residential Quad

• Baptist Collegiate Ministry will host a Bible study and fellowship event.

Dr. Kevin Shirley-Installation of Ethel Dallis Hill Professor of History

Tuesday, April 9

3 p.m., Beason Recital Hall, West Side

• A formal ceremony will be held to install Dr. Kevin Shirley as the Ethel Dallis Hill Professor of History.

What Was She Wearing?

Wednesday, April 10

3 p.m., Dickson Assembly Room

• In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, there will be exhibits of outfits from people who have experienced sexual assault. The clothing will be provided by Harmony House, a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter and awareness organization. The event seeks to spread awareness about stigma of sexual assault.

LIVE@LC: Problem-Solving Skills are Essential for Leaders

Wednesday, April 10

4 p.m., Corn Auditorium

• Nicole Maddox, Director of Admissions, will lead a session on how students can take problem-solving skills from different jobs or classes and turn them into leadership skills to enhance their career.

LIVE@LC: Invisible Leadership

Thursday, April 11

11 a.m., Corn Auditorium

• Political Science Professor Jeff Lukken will share different styles of leadership and principles that make a moral leader.

LIVE@LC: Ethical Leadership

Thursday, April 11

3 p.m., Corn Auditorium

• The Rev. Ashley Jenkins will lead a session on ethical decision making in leadership and life.

Screening of “Steffen Thomas: Rock & Chisel” and Q&A with Filmmaker Jesse Freeman

Thursday, April 11

5:30 p.m., Beason Recital Hall, West Side

• LC Film & Media Arts will present a screening of the film "Steffen Thomas: Rock and Chisel”, a documentary about Steffen Thomas, the Bavarian-born sculptor known for busts and monuments, and notably, his Trilon sculpture, an Atlanta landmark. With a trove of archival footage, Rock & Chisel spotlights the complicated facets of this one-of-a-kind artist. Filmmaker Jesse Freeman will be in attendance for a question and answer session. 

 

Video of the Week

Hailey Palmer ’25: "Join us for Preview Day-April 13."

Spring Preview Day is an excellent way for prospective students and families to find out more about LaGrange College. Get a look at life as a Panther by meeting with current students and faculty, learning about academic programs and getting a personal view of campus. Register at lagrange.edu.

 

Sports

Baseball

The Panthers stalled in their Covenant College series 1-2 March 29-30. LC won its first game 7-0 but took 9-8 and 7-5 losses in its doubleheader. On Tuesday, the team bounced back with a 12-8 win at Oglethorpe. LC will be on the road to face Berry College on Tuesday, April 9, at 6 p.m.

Softball

LC lost 8-0 and 9-0 in its doubleheader against Belhaven on Thursday, March 28. The Panthers will be at home taking on Maryville on Friday, April 5, (today), at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The team will celebrate senior day prior to their doubleheader against Berea College on Saturday, April 6. The game start times are noon and 2 p.m.

Golf

The Panthers placed 10th in the Wynlakes Intercollegiate this past week. Sophomore Jeremy Edmunds placed sixth overall out of 74 players. The team does not play this week.

Lacrosse

LC will host Greensboro College on Saturday, April 6, at noon.

Junior Ryan Comeau was named USAC Offensive Player of the Week. In the team’s 22-9 victory over Huntingdon, Comeau scored a team-high six goals on 12 shots.

Women’s Tennis

The Panthers fell to Piedmont 0-9 on Monday, April 1. The team hosts Berea College on Saturday, April 6, and Maryville College on Sunday, April 7.

Men’s Tennis

LC lost its match to Piedmont 0-9 on Monday, April 1. The Panthers will play at home against Berea College on Saturday, April 6 and Maryville College on Sunday, April 7.

Beach Volleyball

The Panthers lost 5-0 against Huntingdon in the final game of the season on Thursday, April 4.

 

Panther Calendar

(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)

Friday, April 5 – Softball (Home) vs. Maryville, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., LC Softball Complex

Saturday, April 6 – Men’s Tennis (Home) vs. Berea, noon, Greer Tennis Courts

Saturday, April 6 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. Berea, noon, Greer Tennis Courts

Saturday, April 6 – Softball (Home) vs. Berea, noon and 2 p.m., LC Softball Complex

Saturday, April 6 – Lacrosse (Home) vs. Greensboro, noon, Panther Field

Sunday, April 7 – Men’s Tennis (Home) vs. Maryville, noon, Greer Tennis Courts

Sunday, April 7 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. Maryville, noon, Greer Tennis Courts

Tuesday, April 9 – Softball at Huntingdon, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama

Tuesday, April 9 – Baseball at Berry, 6 p.m., Rome, Georgia

Wednesday, April 10 – Lacrosse at Piedmont, 7 p.m., Demorest, Georgia

Category: Events, Academics

Keywords: History, Education