The Michigan History Day Western Regional Contest will be held on Saturday, March 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kirkhof Center on the Grand Valley State University Allendale Campus.
Michigan History Day offers a fascinating opportunity to move social science beyond rote learning. Students perform self-directed research on an individually chosen topic. They then present their work through the allied disciplines of art, literature, music, drama, and visual communications, in addition to writing. Participants have the opportunity to expand and improve their work between each stage of competition.
There are two competitive divisions, Junior (grades 6-8) and Senior (grades 9-12). There is also a noncompetitive Youth division for fourth and fifth graders who will automatically advance to the state contest.
There are four categories: paper, exhibits, documentaries, and performances. All but paper are divided between individual entries and group (2-5 students) entries. On the day of the contest, entrants make presentations and judges interview them for about ten minutes.
Judges are from Grand Valley's History Department, teachers from local schools, community historians, and graduating history students from GVSU. They will select the top three entries in each division and category, which will advance to the state contest, at the Central Michigan University campus on April 30.
Over 110 students registered for the contest this year representing many west Michigan area schools, including: Comstock Park High School Grant High School , Cedar Springs High School, Black River Public School, Ada Christian Middle School, Cedar Springs Middle School, Forrest Hills Central Middle School, Forrest Hills Northern Middle School, Holland West Middle School, Holland East Middle School, Jenison Christian Middle School, Walden Green Montessori School
Youth Category: Whitehall Ealy Elementary School
The National History Day mission statement says, "History Day is designed to promote the study of history in schools and to create a higher degree of appreciation for its value in the students, educators and community members who participate. The spirit of History Day is not based upon winning and losing, but on the encouragement of achievement, the recognition of excellence and the positive critical evaluation of every student participant."
Judges and program officials value student effort, while encouraging academic achievement and the building of positive self-esteem. History Day entries, like history itself, are evolutionary in nature. It is the goal of the program to empower students with research skills, critical thinking skills and outlets for creative expression which will enhance their academic abilities in all areas of study.
Each year the students are asked to keep a theme in mind while they work on their entries. This year the theme is "Communication in History. " Sponsors of Michigan History Day include: Grand Valley State University and its History Department and The Historical Society of Michigan, the state's oldest organization dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of all aspects of Michigan's colorful past.
Michigan History Day is part of The Historical Society of Michigan's effort to promote the study and teaching of Michigan history.
For more information about the Historical Society of Michigan and its programs call Larry Wagenaar, The Michigan Council for History Education Executive Director (517) 324-1828.
For more information about the Michigan History Day Western Regional Contest call Sean O'Neill at the Grand Valle History Department, (616) 331-3325.
