GSW to host National History Day competition

AMERICUS (March 1, 2017)--On Friday, March 3, Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) will host a National History Day regional competition. The event will bring together 37 students grades 6-8 from the area.

National History Day is an opportunity for middle school and high school students to engage in the process of producing original historical content. Entries for the 2017 competition at GSW include: “Standing against the British: The Boston Tea Party and Consequences;” “The Catholic Church and Their Stand against Eugenics;” Jesse Owens: Defiance in Leaps and Bounds;” “Rosa Parks: Sitting Down to Take a Stand;” “Ghandi Taking a Stand against the British by Marching to the Sea;” “Mandela’s Stand against Apartheid;” “Muhammad Ali: A Fighter Refusing to Fight;” and “Elie Wiesel: Taking a  Stand against Oppression.” Each project represent months of hard work by bright, young minds.

Students will compete in eight categories: Group Documentary, Group Exhibit, Group Performance, Group Website, Individual Documentary, Individual Exhibit, Individual Website, and Individual Paper. Students will be judged on content, on adherence to the 2017 theme, “Taking a Stand in History,” and on their interviews. The winners from the regional level will go on to compete at the state competition next month in Macon.

Evan Kutzler, Ph.D., GSW assistant professor of history, is the director of the competition.

“As one of 10 schools in Georgia that hosts National History Day, GSW provides students with feedback that will make them more competitive at the state competition and, if successful there, at the national level,” Kutzler said.

Kutzler added that that 18 judges will be participating. They will include GSW undergraduate students, faculty, staff, representatives from Georgia Humanities Council, and members of the local public history community.

For additional information, email evan.kutzler@gsw.edu.