National History Day at UCA

On Saturday, April 19, approximately 400 Arkansas middle level and secondary students participated in the National History Day state contest at the University of Central Arkansas. The students who placed first or second in their respective category competitions will advance to the national contest at the University of Maryland scheduled for June 15-19. All of the students competing on Saturday had already survived academic competitions at their respective regional and school events, where they were selected from among the more than 8,000 Arkansas students who engage in National History Day work in their classrooms.

UCA has been the host of National History Day Arkansas since 1994. History Day is funded by the Arkansas Humanities Council, the Arkansas Department of Education, and UCA. The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies and the Clinton Presidential Library are working partners with History Day, helping to guide students in their research and project development. 

Students and their teachers who attend the national competition in June will receive travel stipends from History Day Arkansas. Each third place recipient will receive a $50 check. 

Winners of History Day Arkansas 2014 are:

Junior Division (grades 6-8):

Group Exhibits:

First place: Maggie McDonald, Megan Lamendola; Central Junior High, Springdale
Second place: Jordan Dennis, Gracie Brought; Lighthouse Charter School, Jacksonville
Third place: Danielle Graham, Kayla Gill, Leah Wallace; Central Junior High, Springdale

Individual Exhibits:

First place: Sydney Mulhearn, Conway Junior High
Second place: Taylor Powell; Central Junior High, Springdale
Third place: Grace Sykes; Russellville Junior High

 Group documentaries:

First place: Anna Grace Freyaldenhoven, Gopi Lukhi; Conway Junior High
Second place: Baylie Lanier, Sarah James Stone; Prairie Grove Middle School
Third place: Katherine McConnell, Maria Akey; Prairie Grove Middle School

 Individual Documentaries:

First place: Sarah Huber; Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
Second place: Aidan Doss; Northridge Middle School,Van Buren
Third place: Roman Greathouse; Conway Junior High

 Group Performances:

First place: Ashtyn Adams, Caitlyn Davis, Katie Barnwell; Butterfield Junior High, Van Buren
Second place: Kylee Beetch, Cameryn Curtsinger, Megan Haley; Prairie Grove Middle School
Third place: Gabrielle Vatthanatham, Zachary Garrett; Northridge Middle School, Van Buren 

Individual Performances:

First place: Vera Lambert; Conway Junior High
Second place: Clayton Bolding; Barton Junior High, El Dorado
Third place: Kiara Bradford; Conway Junior High

 Group Websites:

First place: Mia Graff, Madeline Graff; Conway Junior High
Second place: Jenna Wheeler, Jentry Myers, Emily Phomsopha; Northridge Middle School, Van Buren
Third place: Jessie Bates, Katie Diekman, Joanne Liu; Pulaski Heights Middle School, Little Rock

Individual Websites:

First place: Megan McGinnis; Northridge Middle School, Van Buren
Second place: Rebecca Kuo; Pulaski Heights Middle School, Little Rock
Third place: Maria Pratt; Central Junior High, Springdale

 Historical Papers:

First place: Alex Crawford; Pulaski Heights Middle School, Little Rock
Second place: Zia Tollette; Pulaski Heights Middle School, Little Rock
Third place: Samuel Rhee; Episcopal Collegiate School, Little Rock 

Senior Division: 

Group Exhibits:

First place: Joseph Adkins, Cameron King; Central Junior High
Second place: Zayda Betz, Melody Chiang, Erin McCoy; Conway Junior High
Third place: James Crane, Andrew Rodriguez; Conway Junior High

 Individual Exhibits:

First place: Cameron Tilley; Conway Junior High
Second place: Kate Lange; Conway Junior High
Third place: Cassidy King; Springdale High School

 Group Documentaries:

First place: Natalie Kemp, Nadia Safar, Sarah Martin; Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
Second place: Sarah Coles, Taylor Rackley; Van Buren High School
Third place: Eli Mills, Ethan Johnston; Van Buren High School

 Individual Documentaries:

First place: JosepRebekah Love; Lakeside Junior High, Springdale
Second place: Sydney Blackwell; Alma High School
Third place: Robyn Burnett; Conway Junior High

 Group Performances:

First place: Kennedy Reynolds, Mary Nail, Joe Coker, Cooper Tribett, Caroline Dacus; Conway High School West
Second place: Alex Anderson, Carly Riggins, Brandon Jeremiah, Sydney Ford, Victoria Moore; Van Buren High School
Third place: Neely Caudle, Maggie Carroll, Avery Glover; Conway Junior High

 Individual Performances:

First place: Sarah English; Central Junior High
Second place: Mary Kate Denis; LISA Academy North, Sherwood
Third place: Seth Stewart; Johnson County Westside, Coal Hill 

Group Website:

First place: Sean Cline, Sean McGinnis; Van Buren High School
Second place: Frank Griffin, Blake Kuykendall; Alma High School
Third place: Jessica Dean, Jaylon Sargent, Jenny Cheng; Conway Junior High

 Individual Website:

First place: Kimberly Foster; Har-Ber High School
Second place: Connor Lichtenwalter; Conway High School West
Third place: Dana Chinault; Fayetteville High School East

 Historical Papers:

First place: Hanya Qureshi; Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
Second place: Zelda Engeler-Young;Conway Junior High
Third place: Sean Volavong; Van Buren High School

History Day Arkansas is an affiliate of National History Day, an academic support program that serves students in all the states and territories of the United States, as well as several other nations. Students learn research, writing, and communication skills that foster learning in all disciplines. The program is for students in grades 6 through twelve. For more information, e-mail Dr. Pat Ramsey at pramsey@uca.edu.