State contest photographic recap 1: Saturday

Saturday photographic summary (in reverse, because I haven't quite figured out Blogger's quirks yet). Exhibit photos to follow this weekend. -Gwen

Coupeville's Nationals team
Prosser's Powerhouse team.
True champions: reading judging forms IMMEDIATELY after winning.
New champions.
Cheering on a teammate.

Team Wyeast (junior school champion)
Contemplating a trip to DC.
Also contemplating a trip to DC.
Reaction shot
Group hug! (Wyeast sweep!)
Washington History Man's entrance into the Awards Ceremony!
Our biggest crowd yet.
Who needs a phone booth?
Waiting for finals postings
2 of our HQ Minions (Leigh Douglas & Simone Prince-Eischner, both previous--and possibly future--Nationals finalists).

State Contest Results

Here it is! The complete list of state contest winners, 1st through 6th palce. We'll post special award winners tomorrow. Results are listed as follows:
City, School, Teacher - Title
Student(s)

Junior Individual Documentary
1
Bothell, WA, Northshore Junior High, Bill Boniface - Modern Art - Visual Statement of Belief
Kalin Goss

2
Coupeville, WA, Coupeville Middle School, Wilbur Purdue - A Wayward Journey: Innovation in Transportation Leads to the U.S. Interstate Highway System
Heni Barnes

3
Kirkland, WA, International Community School, Mark Bach- The Douglas DC-3: Innovation in Aviation
Josef Benzaoui

4
Vancouver, WA, Wyeast Middle School, Michelle Annett - DDT: Man's Miracle, Nature's Bane
Maggie Altenhof-Long

5
Oak Harbor, WA, Homeconnection, Dena Royal, Brenda Maronde - The Kenny Method: Changing the Lives of Polio Victims and Impacting the Future of Rehabilitation Medicine
Megan Maronde

6
Battle Ground, WA, Cam Jr./Sr. High, Connie Egeler- Yosemite Land Grant
Karina Rayl
 
Junior Group Documentary
1
Everett, WA, Explorer Middle School, Claire Elam - Apollo 11: Bringing Space Into Reach
Annalisa Castelli
Ryan Vogt
Alison Cantarano

2
Coupeville, WA, Coupeville Middle School, Wilbur Purdue - The 747, the Innovation that Changed the Economics of Air Travel and Air Transport, Bringing People and Cultures Together
Dawson D'Almeida
Jackson King

3
Renton, WA, McKnight Middle School, Jacqueline Eng - Dynamite: The Industrial Explosion
Nathan Sjoholm
Bahari Watkins
Luis Puga

4
Bothell, WA, Northshore Junior High, Bill Boniface - Jet Planes: Taking Off to the Future
Brian Cullinan
Julian Bacon

5
Vancouver, WA, Wyeast Middle School, Michelle Annett - The Bar Code
Joe Howard
Sam Howard
Ben Howard

6
Kingston, WA, Kingston Middle School, Mary Macala - National Parks: An Innovation in Conservation
Alexa Benjamin
Gillian McCormick

 
Junior Individual Exhibit
1
Seattle, WA, Lake Washington Girls Middle School, Jenny Zavatsky - The Great Seattle Fire 1889: An Opportunity to Innovate
Maia Lewis

2
Sequim, WA, Sequim Middle School, Tricia Billes, Todd Beuke - Changing the Face of War: The Longbow
Bill Koenig

3
Port Angeles, WA, Stevens Middle School, Leann McComb - Anesthesia: A New Era of Painless Surgery
Madeline Bradley

4
Redmond, WA, Redmond Junior High, Kimberly Jensen - The Women's Suffrage Movement in the U.S.: Foundations of Equality
Meghana Noonavath

5
Redmond, WA, Sunrise Elementary, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski - The Green Revolution: Saving Lives, But At What Cost?
Erin Lee

6
Bellingham, WA, Whatcom Day Academy, Jennifer Deshaies - Common Sense: Innovative Words That Sparked Revolution
Tessa Jones
 
Junior Group Exhibit
1
Sequim, WA, Sequim Middle School, Tricia Billes, Todd Beuke - Lessons of Failure: The Impact and Innovation of the Bridges of the Narrows
Wesley Gilchrist
James Reis

2
Kent, WA, Mattson Middle School, Mary Aquino, Darlene Bishop - Nuclear Boom
Stephanie Ogden
Emily Gilbertson

3
Redmond, WA, Sunrise Elementary, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski - The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: 145 Years of Compassion
Kaylee Holleman
Claire Miller

4
Bothell, WA, Northshore Junior High, Bill Boniface - Atomic Bomb: Innovation to Obligation
Drew Larsen
Randy Iwafuchi

5
Redmond, WA, Redmond Junior High, Kimberly Jensen - Confucianism: Building Social Norms and Stability
Karen Ai
Elaine Wang

6
Vancouver, WA, Shahala Middle School, Nicole Garrio - Nuclear Energy
Jonathan Feng
Jason Yu
 
Junior Individual Performance
1
Prosser, WA, Housel Middle School, Brock Buttars, Dean Smith - The Invention of Red Moon: Impacting American Science and Forever Changing Technology in the World
Sara Durrant

2
Vancouver, WA, Wyeast Middle School, Michelle Annett - The Hybrid Corn Seed: Impact on Agriculture and Economy
Sam Kesala

3
Stanwood, WA, Christianson Home School, Elizabeth Christianson - The Innovation of Aviation: Rapid Change Globle Impact
Andrew Christianson

4
Poulsbo, WA, West Sound Academy, Barrie Hillman - The Discovery of Anesthesia: Opening the Doors to Modern Surgery
Quinn Rain

5
Kirkland, WA, International Community School, Mark Bach - "OKLAHOMA!: Impacting the Standards of Broadway Musicals"
Devon Bortfeld

6
Redmond, WA, Redmond Junior High, Kimberly Jensen - The Ancient Dr. Seuss: Shakespeare's Influence on the English Language
Alyssa Foster
 
Junior Group Performance
1
Vancouver, WA, Wyeast Middle School, Michelle Annett - Sesame Street: A New Chalkboard for Education
Brittany Beaudoin
Cassie Bliley
Hayley McCarthy

2
Vancouver, WA, Wyeast Middle School, Michelle Annett - Employer Based Health Insurance: The Accident that Changed America
Romessa Ahmed
Shika Kalevor
Neesha Godbole

3
Vancouver, WA, Wyeast Middle School, Michelle Annett - Broadway: Breaking Social Barriers Show by Show
Katie Kibota
Annie Song
4

Kirkland, WA, International Community School, Mark Bach - "The 1949 Geneva Convention: An Innovation in Humanity"
Rachel Roberts
Aishwarya Nirmal

5
Poulsbo, WA, Poulsbo Middle School, Janet Kragen - The Shot to a Killer: The Smallpox Vaccine
Madison Derksema
Darby Lowney
Olivia Mansker-Stoker

6
Redmond, WA, Redmond Junior High, Kimberly Jensen - Magna Carta: Charter for Change
Anton De Leon
Zack Packer
Hannah Parish
Nikki Sharma

 
Junior Historical Paper
1
Bothell, WA, Canyon Park Junior High School, Dori Wuepper - Poisons That Heal
Peter Berge

2
Prosser, WA, Housel Middle School, Brock Buttars , Dean Smith - The Combine Harvester: Innovating Modern Wheat Farming, Impacting the Way the World Thinks About Bread
Christopher Wiley

3
Redmond, WA, Redmond Junior High, Kimberly Jensen - The Germ Theory of Disease
Jonathan Qu

4
Bothell, WA, Northshore Junior High, Bill Boniface - The X-ray: Viewing the Skeleton of History
Brenden Wong

5
Vancouver, WA, Wyeast Middle School, Roberta Uhland - Transition between Heliocentric and Geocentric Views
Emily Leland

6
Bellingham, WA, Whatcom Day Academy, Jennifer Deshaies - The Berlin Wall: Two Sides, One Story
Clara Wheeler

 
Junior Web Site
1
Vancouver, WA, Frontier Middle School, Kristie Neshyba - Galileo and the Telescope
Madison Snaric

2
Woodinville, WA, Timbercrest Junior High, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski - AZT: Stopping a Killer
Megan Messer

3
Redmond, WA, Sunrise Elementary, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski - Satellites: Revolutionizing Communication by Linking the World
Joshua Ervin

4
Prosser, WA, Housel Middle School, Brock Buttars, Dean Smith - The Innovation of the Jet Engine: Impacting the Skies and Changing the World
McKay Ashton
Taylor Gant

5
Redmond, WA, Sunrise Elementary, Paula Cautrell, Patti Kalinski - Radar: The Silent Detector
Jonathan Aiken

6
Kent, WA, Mattson Middle School, Mary Aquino, Darlene Bishop, Sue High - Innovation of the Phonograph: Recording History
Pravi Garcha
Mackenna Newmarch


 
Senior Individual Documentary
1
Kirkland, WA, International Community School, Mark Bach - Blood Plasma: Dr. Charles Drew's Innovation and Its Impact on Trauma Medicine
Nathan Maris

2
Kent, WA, Kentwood High School, Kathleen King - The Final Frontier: Star Trek, an Innovation
Samantha Larson

3
Mead, WA, Mt. Spokane High School, Luke Thomas - J. Harlen Bretz: A Scientific Innovation, The World's Greatest Flood
Kevin Yen

4
Port Orchard, WA, Marcus Whitman Junior High, Tom O'Loughlin - A New Era of Musicality: Jimi Hendrix's Innovations of Music
Madeleine Folkerts

5
Oak Harbor, WA, Homeconnection, Dena Royal - Heritage and Vigilance: The Innovative History of the National Archives and Records Administration
Adrianna Royal

6
Shoreline, WA, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen - The Stolen Generation: The Story of the Australian Aboriginal Children
Trevor Cronin
 

Senior Group Documentary
1
Redmond, WA, Redmond High School, Gregg McDonald - The Transcontinental Railroad: Uniting the States of America
Anand Raghuraman
Tian Kisch
Raluca Ifrim

2
Coupeville, WA, Coupeville High School, Wilbur Purdue - From Private to Public: Failures to Adapt the Black Ball Line Results in the Innovative Washington State Ferry System
Anna Bailey
Kelsey Miranda

3
Bainbridge Island, WA, Bainbridge High School, Loanne Harmeling - Sulfonamide
Henry Chipman
Colby Lea

4
Redmond, WA, Redmond High School, Gregg McDonald - Our Land: Preserving the American Wilderness
Tara Balakrishnan
Maya Balakrishnan
Edward Zhang
Sarah Du

5
Richland, WA, Delta High School, Jenny Rodriquez - Disaster, Development, Discovery: The Titanic
Krystal Reitan
Stevie-Jean Luke

6
Kent, WA, Kentridge High School, Kyle Patrick - The Telephone
Amy Yang
Sierra Wollen
 
Senior Individual Exhibit
1
Tacoma, WA, Charles Wright Academy, Nick Coddington - The Marine Chronometer: An Innovative Solution to the Longitude Problem
Sarah Sadlier

2
Poulsbo, WA, West Sound Academy, Barrie Hillman- How Bicycles Changed the World
Mikail Dash-Green

3
Stanwood, WA, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Shaw - National Parks: The Radical Idea to Preserve and Protect
Ashlyn Teather

4
Tacoma, WA, Academy Northwest-Summit, Laurie Akehurst - Red Bull: A Must or Bust
Tomara Swanson

5
Shoreline, WA, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen - Braille
Rebecca Erickson

6
Port Orchard, WA, Marcus Whitman Junior High, Tom O'Loughlin - The Wobblies: Paving a New Road for Workers of the World
Kylie Thomas
 
Senior Group Exhibit
1
Stanwood, WA, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Shaw - Empowering the People: The Bonneville Power Administration
Rebecca Raible
Heather Biehl

2
Stanwood, WA, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Shaw - The Iron Chink
Madalyn Schei
Emily Najar

3
Spanaway, WA, Bethel High School, James Sawatzki - The Protestant Reformation
Emma Kuhlmann
Samantha Shotwell

4
Richland, WA, Delta High School, Jenny Rodriquez - Communism: An Innovation in Thinking
Omar Baradi
Olukemi Olorunniwo
Seth Tegrotenhuis

5
Spanaway, WA, Bethel High School, James Sawatzki - Affirmative Action
Tyler Brewer
Maddison Bray

6
Spanaway, WA, Bethel High School, James Sawatzki - Title IX
Morgan Belieu
Caila Fautenberry
Jaclyn Parton
 
Senior Individual Performance
1
Prosser, WA, Prosser High School, Brock Buttars, Dean Smith - Constitutional Innovation: A Grand Idea and a Lasting Influence on the United States of America
Jordan Sperl

2
Port Orchard, WA, Marcus Whitman Junior High, Tom O'Loughlin - Propoganda and Its Use in Nazi Germany Against the Jews
Justine Morris

3
Coupeville, WA, Coupeville High School, Wilbur Purdue - The Innovation of Higher Education for Women: A Struggle to Gain the Right to Learn
Katelyn Wynn

4
Spanaway, WA, Bethel High School, James Sawatzki - Musical Theatre: Innovation with Social Influence
Megan Cook

5
Mead, WA, Mt. Spokane High School, Luke Thomas - Jack the Dripper
Julia Yen

6
Kent, WA, Kentridge High School, Kyle Patrick - Thomas Edison: Incandescence
Dumit Malacon

 
Senior Group Performance

1
Kirkland, WA, International Community School, Mark Bach - H4: John Harrison's Steadfast Determination to Conquer Space with Time
Abby Burlingame
Ceridwen Riley

2
Prosser, WA, Prosser High School, Brock Buttars, Dean Smith, Kay Thiede - Radio: An Innovation of Information
Braydon Smith
Alana Peters
Amanda Russell

3
Silverdale, WA, Klahowya Secondary School, Jeff Kreifels - Nuclear Energy: An Innovation that Radiates through History
Emily Kreifels
Boyd Wolking
Jared Sell

4
Spanaway, WA, Bethel High School, James Sawatzki - Greenpeace: Innovation in Direct Action
Felica Edwards
Kirstin Bare

5
Spanaway, WA, Bethel High School, James Sawatzki - Equal Rights Amendment
Lindsey House
Joann Silcio

6
Spanaway, WA, Bethel High School, James Sawatzki - Zionism: Impact and Change in the Middle East
Stormy Ross
Shelby Sewright


Senior Paper
1
Stanwood, WA, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Shaw - A Firm Foundation: Portland Cement Paves the Way to Innovation
Lynette Bye

2
Shoreline, WA, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen - Far Reaching Rights: An Era of Innovation in Treaty Law in Washington State that Impacted the Rights of Aborigines Worldwide
Jacob Ziontz

3
Sequim, WA, Sequim High School, Tricia Billes, Todd Beuke - A Chemist in the Kitchen: Ellen Swallow Richards' Innovative Applications of Science and their Impact on Home and Society
Hillary Smith

4
Seattle, WA, Seattle Preparatory School, Brian Elsner - Margaret Sanger’s Magic Pill
Nicole Tidwell

5
Marysville, WA, Academy Northwest - Marysville, Patti Deal - Penicillin
Langdon Wright

6
Seattle, WA, Seattle Preparatory School, Brian Elsner - National Parks and Conservation: An American Innovation
Nicholas Wang
 
Senior Web Site
1
Kirkland, WA, International Community School, Mark Bach - The Defibrillator: Revolutionizing the Pulse of Medical Innovation One Beat at a Time
Jessica Jin
Anastasiya Kirichuk

2
Stanwood, WA, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Shaw - The Polio Vaccine: Eradicating the Paralyzing Fear of the 20th Century
Austin Biehl
Adam Knott
Connor Martin

3
Shoreline, WA, Shorewood High School, Mikael Christensen - Barcodes: A Revolution in Data Capture
Madison Welsh
Emiko Yamada

4
Tacoma, WA, Charles Wright Academy, Nick Coddington - Blood Groups - The Innovation That Changed The Face of Medicine
Devika Agrawal

5
Stanwood, WA, Stanwood High School, Sabrina Shaw - Germ Theory: Louis Pasteur's Innovation to Prevent Disease
Kyle Blackburn
Max Osnes

6
Woodinville, WA, Leota Junior High, Jerrie Drinkwine - Life Changing Innovations in Diabetes Care
Paige Rinnert

Spectacular State Contest

First off, let me say: WOW. Just, WOW.

Lauren told you at the awards ceremony that Washington is a History Day powerhouse, and you all brought your A-game this year. This is what History Day is about.

A record number (558!) of History Day students from all around Washington competed Saturday at the Washington State History Day Contest. The facilities at Bellevue College were organized, clean, and easy to navigate. (Thank you, Bellevue College! Everyone was a pleasure to work with, and I hope we'll be back next year.)

Teachers, parents, friends, and family (and yes, judges) got to see the outcome of all your hard work. We could tell you all worked very, very hard.

I spent the past two weeks reading junior papers about chemotherapy, the combine, germ theory, the x-ray, the Berlin wall, four-stroke engines, barbed wire, the microscope, the atomic bomb, Wonder Woman, geocentrism, chocolate, and many more innovations. In their interviews, each student spoke eloquently and passionately about their topic. This is what History Day is about.

The exhibit hall, if you ignored the bleachers & slightly curling carpet squares, looked like a museum dedicated to innovation. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rubbed elbows with the longbow and spectacles. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Grand Coulee Dam, and Title IX stood tall alongside the Wilderness Act, the naval chronometer, and the typewriter. The Beatles faced off with the atomic bomb. Aircraft, oncology, and the Great Seattle Fire each had their say.

Craftsmanship, analysis, and enthusiasm ruled the day. This is what History Day is about.

Projects I saw at regional contests mere months ago were unrecognizable (I'm looking at you, Farragut girls--great job!!) and greatly improved (too many to count). It takes courage to get feedback, absorb it, and completely disassemble something you've worked so hard on, but I know more than a few of you got that advice from the judges and followed it. Believe me, it showed in the high quality of the work you presented.

Throughout the day, actors, actresses, and documentarians presented tightly scripted work about blood plasma, the transcontinental railroad, national parks, the Kenny Method, Oklahoma!, the National Archives & Records Administration, Star Trek, the DC-40, and barcodes. That's right: Oklahoma! and barcodes. This is what History Day is about.

Each and every one of you should be incredibly proud of yourself. You've done deep & advanced research. You are historians. Whether you made it to finals or not, won an award or not, you are a historian.

A photographic run-down of the day will follow tomorrow, but for now I leave you with this: Your family, friends, and judges were all impressed by your work. You should be as well.

This is what History Day is about.

Complete State Contest Information: Read, Learn, Pass It On

This post contains information you need to ensure a successful and enjoyable Washington History Day state contest. Please read it carefully. We are looking forward to welcoming all 1,500 of you at Bellevue College on Saturday, May 1.

ARRIVAL: For directions to Bellevue College, click here. If you are coming from the south, please note that I-5 is undergoing major construction and significant delays are predicted. Go to the WSDOT website to learn more about specific closures, and plan your travel time accordingly. At the very least, you should plan to be on campus one hour before your judging time.

When you arrive on campus, proceed to the registration tables in the lobby of the Gym (see campus/parking map). We suggest you park near the Gym, since that is the venue for the awards ceremony (the last event of the day), in lots 16, 17, or 18. Do not park in the parking garage, as it will be closed. Please refer to the attached campus/parking map for additional parking options (lots 6, 8, 10 and 12 are good options).

REGISTRATION: Students and teachers EACH need to pick up their own registration packets at the check-in tables in the Gym lobby. Please allow enough time to do this; your packets contain everything you need for the day. If you have outstanding fees, your registration will be held in contest headquarters so that payment can be made. Registration is open Friday night 5-8:30PM, and Saturday morning 7-10:30AM (after 10:30AM, registration moves to the lobby of Building C). This is also your chance to sign up for a campus tour (see below for details).

T-SHIRT PICKUP: If you pre-ordered a History Day t-shirt, you may pick it up Saturday morning during registration in the Gym lobby. Please remember to bring cash or check only. There may be a few extra shirts for sale if you didn’t order one during online registration.

EXHIBIT SET-UP: The Gym will be open for exhibit set-up on Friday from 5-8:30PM and Saturday from 7-9:15AM only. Do not wait until the last minute to set up your exhibit; the gym will close promptly at 9:15AM for judging. Students must set-up their own exhibit; adult assistance is allowed only for exceptionally heavy or awkward pieces. Contest staff will monitor the Gym to ensure rule compliance. Exhibit students should bring seven (7) copies of their title page, process paper and bibliography. Three (3) copies should be left with the exhibit just before judging begins on Saturday; judges will take these with them. After the preliminary round judging ends, students should return to their exhibits by 1:45PM and leave three (3) copies for final round judging in the afternoon. The extra copy is for emergencies—and there are always emergencies, so be sure to bring enough copies with you.

GENERAL SCHEDULE: The general schedule for the contest is available here (look under State/Helpful Information). Please print, copy and distribute as needed. The schedule provides important information about judging times and policies, meals, and public viewing of exhibits, websites and papers.

JUDGING: Exhibits, paper and website judging is closed to the public. Paper and website judging begins at 9AM; all other categories begin at 10AM. Paper and website students need no paperwork; the judges already have it. Exhibit students will be called in a few minutes before their judge time by a volunteer stationed at the Gym door. This is your opportunity to freshen the exhibit, fix any loose ends, etc. Judges will introduce themselves and usually ask students to wait for a few minutes while they read the paperwork and look at the exhibit. Then they’ll conduct the interview. Each judging slot is 15 minutes long.

In performance and documentary categories, audience is welcome to attend but may not ask questions. Cell phones must be turned off and talking should be kept to a minimum to ensure that every student is offered the same opportunity and respect. In the preliminary rounds, performance and documentary students are allowed five minutes to set up, ten minutes to present their projects, and five minutes to tear down. Judges typically ask questions during the last five minutes. Students in these categories should bring seven (7) copies of their title page, process paper and bibliography—three for the morning round, three for the afternoon round if they advance, and one for emergencies.

The final round judging begins at 2PM, and interviews are not conducted in any category; the project must stand on its own. Students present their performance and/or documentary, including time for setup and tear-down, but there are no questions. Audience members are encouraged to attend all rounds and to cheer on all students.

FINALS POSTING SITE: Performance and documentary finalists will be posted in the cafeteria (Building C, ground floor) at approximately 1PM. Students who are advancing to finals should note their presentation time slot and proceed to the appropriate room to prepare. Room schedules will be posted in Buildings C, L, R and the Gym for easy navigation; sandwich boards will be set up around campus as well. Paper, website and exhibit finals are not posted; winners are announced at the awards ceremony.

MEALS: If you signed up for meals, tickets will be in the registration packet of the person who paid for the meals. Do not lose the tickets; they are not replaceable and are your only means of access to on-campus meals. Lunch is served 11:30AM-1:30PM; dinner is served 4:30-6PM. If you did not sign up for meals, you may purchase them on site ($11 lunch, $13 dinner). All meals will be served in the Cafeteria, ground floor of Building C. In addition, the coffee shop in the lobby of Building C will be open all day; it features a full espresso menu and assorted pastries and snacks. Vending machines are available in most buildings as well.

CAMPUS EVENTS: Bellevue College and its History Club have put together a number of great events to welcome History Day contestants to campus.
- On Friday, April 30, the Netherfield Regency Ball will take place in the Cafeteria (Building C), beginning at 7:30PM. Participants may dress in 18th-century garb, or come as you are and try out the dances that Thomas Jefferson enjoyed.
- On Saturday, May 1, the History Club will lead four campus tours. Two will include an inside look at the planetarium, another will explore the physics lab, including a cannon demonstration, and one is a surprise. Tour capacity is limited, and students should sign up at registration, where times and rendezvous points will be posted.
- Also on Saturday, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with historians, librarians and archivists from around the state at the History Day Research Buffet, 2-5:30PM in the Cafeteria. This is a great chance to learn about different repositories and their resources, and get one-on-one advice about research.
- Watch for Bellevue College Television (BCTV) staff, who will be filming throughout the day. This is your chance to get on camera, show your project, and talk about participating in History Day.
- Also keep an eye out for our own History Day photographer, Gwen Schweitzer. She’ll be snapping pics throughout the afternoon.

AWARDS: The Awards Ceremony begins at 6:30PM in the Gym; doors open at 6PM. Sit with your teammates and cheer on everyone who completed a History Day project! Awards generally last 90 minutes. When awards end, only teachers may pick up packets with their students’ evaluation forms. Immediately after awards, the top finishers, their parents and teachers stay behind to talk about the national trip. This generally takes about 45 minutes and is absolutely essential.

CODE OF CONDUCT: History Day participants are guests on the Bellevue College campus and are expected to behave according to the codes of conduct of their schools and the NHD Rule Book. Contest coordinators may disqualify any student who violates this rule.

CONTEST PROGRAMS: Complete contest programs will be available for download from the Washington History Day website about three days before the contest. To keep printing costs down, we will not be offering printed programs this year; if you want a complete contest catalog, you should download and print it.

As always, if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks, and happy History Day!

Screening a Documentary at the State Contest? Read This!

This came over the transom from our friends at New York State History Day, and it so perfectly mirrored our experience that we had to share it. So, doc producers, read up and make sure you're ready!

During the regional contests this year, many students brought their documentary entries as computer files. This seemed to be new development for 2010, and there were many issues with hardware and software compatibility. I want to take this time to clarify the procedures for the Documentary Category for the state and national contests.

The intent of this category is to produce a final TV-ready documentary in DVD/VHS format. To that end, both the state and national contests will provide only a television, DVD player and VCR on which students can show their projects.

However, students can show their projects on a computer if they bring the equipment with them (i.e. computer, speakers, projector.) This is in accordance with Rule 8 on page 19 of the National History Day Contest Rule Book, which states: "Students must provide and be able to run their own computers and software."

During the state and national competitions, each documentary entry is given a twenty minute judging period. The first five minutes enables students to set up and test any equipment. They then have ten minutes to present the project and five minutes for tear-down and questions.

Questions? Email us.

Regional Contests: Halfway There

Whew! Mark and I are running all over Washington, it seems, attending regional contests. We're thoroughly enjoying seeing old friends and meeting new ones, judging projects, and generally getting in the way of the fabulous regional coordinators.

On the way to Bellingham last week, History Day Advisory Committee member Gwen Schweitzer and I were talking about judging in general (she's a judging machine, having helped at two contests so far with more to come). Gwen had a great insight that I've added to my judging orientation, and I think it's useful for coaches and students, too.

She said she tries to differentiate between fixable and non-fixable problems when she's evaluating projects. For example, an exhibit with too-small font is fixable. A documentary that doesn't include brief credits for images and video used in it is fixable. A performance that includes too much background and not enough findings is, I think, fixable.

So what's not fixable? Well, the big one this year is a project that isn't really about an innovation. The Innovation in History theme is a challenging one, and we're seeing that at the regional contests. Most projects are about a physical innovation (the cotton gin, the microprocessor, blood plasma, unicycles). A few are about ideas (Communism, wilderness). And some are really about the innovator, not the innovation.

For example, a project that purports to be about the light bulb but is really a biography of Thomas Edison, or one whose title suggests it's about heart transplants but is really a profile of Christiaan Barnard. Be careful! It's tempting to focus on the individual, and certainly their background has something to do with the innovation. And we are a society focused on the accomplishments of individual people. But it's important to avoid this trap.

Projects should be about the innovation, not the person. And the theme ends with "Impact and Change"--so projects have to show both. How did it make a difference? Why was it important? What happened after the innovation came on the scene?

Whether you're heading into regionals or prepping for state, take a hard look at your project. Is it about an innovation? Does it show both impact and change? Can you express that in an interview with judges? And it is clear in your process paper? Ask someone else to look at it, too--friends, parents, teachers are all great sources of feedback.

Correct Bibliography Citations Are Important

Enjoy this post from guest blogger Jessica Ellison of Minnesota History Day:

Many students are using online citation programs, such as Easy Bib or Noodle Bib, to generate their citations. While these programs can sometimes be helpful as students assemble their bibliographies, there are certain flaws that can result in incorrect citations. For example, when using Easy Bib’s MLA style to cite a government document, the citation formula does not ask for an original date of publication. Students citing the United States Constitution, as found on the Library of Congress website, will be asked for the date the document was published on the website and the date the document was accessed, but not for the original publication date.

Be cautious of online citation generators. History Day rules require the bibliography citations to be in either MLA or Turabian style, and certain citations assembled online do not match either of these. In general, it is always a good idea to have students use the printed guides, “A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations” by Kate Turabian or “MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers” by Joseph Gibaldi, instead of using the online generators. It’s similar to the skill of telling time or doing long division; digital clocks and calculators are available, but students still need to learn how to read traditional clocks and do long division by hand. Additionally, the online generators seem easier, but in many cases it is more complicated than simply referencing one of these books.

If the books are not available at your school library, here are a few helpful citation guides online for Turabian and MLA.