Reproduction of German Enigma Machine From WWII

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Historical Society Sponsors Eight Michigan History Day

Competition Draws Over 300 Students To Delta Planetarium Event

March 12, 2013
By: Stephen Kent

The Bay County Historical Society (BCHS) sponsored the regional Michigan History Day (MHD) competition last Saturday for the seventh year. 320 students registered for this year's event and almost that many showed up to present exhibits, papers, performances and web sites to the 29 judges.

"I'm impressed by the wide variety of project and formats" said coordinator Corrine Bloomfield from the museum. "Teachers tell me that this event allows students to find a way to present information in a way that interests them personally. They often learn better that way. It also gives all students a more equal footing. Some may not be good at writing papers or taking tests or other traditional teaching but here they can excel in ways that work for them."

The annual competition is open to students from 4th to 12th grades from Saginaw, Midland and Bay Counties. This year's youngest participant was in the 5th grade and there were many at the senior level in high school. Both public and parochial schools were represented.

"Teacher participation makes this work", said Bloomfield. "They see the value and really get into it. Some started preparations back in November." This year all but one teacher was sending students for the first time. "I think every teacher was there for the entire day", Bloomfield went on. Both teachers and students are supported by handbooks from the Historical Society of Michigan.

Saturday's event opened at 8:00 for registration but students were lining up outside well in advance. Competition and judging went to the last minute and the awards were presented at about 4:00 pm.

Michigan History Day is part of a national program. Winners at Saturday's regional competition are advanced to the state level event and winners from that go on to the nationals in Washington D.C.

The local event was held at the Delta College Planetarium this year and used every available room plus Explorer's Hall. The cost of the event is underwritten by sponsors and is entirely free to students and schools. "If schools had to pay for this it probably wouldn't happen, or it would be much smaller", said Bloomfield. "We couldn't do without our sponsors Copoco Credit Union, Dee Dee Wacksman, Dave and Beth Quimby, and the Historic Society", she said.

Besides MHD, the BCHS and the Historical Museum hosted free Planetarium shows for the public during the day. They also presented the free monthly Second Saturday program at 1:00. The topic of Genealogy was presented by The Bay County Public Library's Mary McManman.

The state level competition will be held at state at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) on April 27. Judges are still being recruited for this event. Anyone who is interested may contact Corrine Bloomfield at the Museum. Further information will be made available shortly. Check the web site at www.bchsmuseum.org for more information.

Michigan History Day 2013 State Advancement
Junior Documentaries (Group)
Spies of the Civil War	Grant Layle, Parker Haller (Handy)
The Tragedies of the Holocaust	Alexis LeRae Harjo, Ellie Majeski (Handy)
The Normandy Invasion	McKinley, Andrew Norfleet (Western Middle School)
Senior Documentaries (Individual)
Ocarina of Timelessness	Charlie Drew (Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy )
A Nation?s Conspiracy	Benjamin Singletary (Calvary Baptist Academy )
Senior Documentaries (Group)
Battle of the Ironclads	Brieana Miller, Faith Neeb, Ashli Wallenbeck (CBA)
Revolutionary War	Zach Bradley, Ryan M. Stinson, Will Rettelle, Gabriel Foor
Little Boy and Fat Man	Alex Roberson, William Nolan, Childress Cannon, Jaylen Dugan, Rene? Fulgencio (SASA)
Junior Website (Individual)
The Battle of Stalingrad	Connor Bloomfield (WMS)
The Underground Railroad	Emily Englehart (Handy)
Pearl Harbor: America?s Turning Point	Collin VanDorn
Junior Websites (Group)
Crash Causes Economic Depression	Olivia Erwin, Madeline Bruessow (WMS)
Fight for Women?s Sufferage	Emilie Seibert, Grace Allen (WMS)
Titanic	Madison Seliskar, Elise Rechsteiner, Hailey Zwingman (WMS)
Senior Website (Individual)
Animal Liberation	Sadie Shepherd (SASA)
Introduction of Slaves to the United States	Caleb Reed (Central)
Senior Website (Group)
End of World War I	Ke'Yon Baston, James Lewis (SASA)
Junior Performance (Individual)
A Quest for Free Will: The Voyage of the Mayflower	Jared Kaufman (Handy)
Youth Exhibits (Individual)
Lincoln the Emancipator	Catherine Bloomfield (McAlear-Sawden Elementary)
Junior Exhibits (Individual)
Women?s Fight for Equal Rights	Lydia Grudzinski (Handy)
D-Day Beach Assault	Matthew Adams (CBA)
Pearl Harbor-America?s Choice is Made	Brandon Ouderkirk (CBA)
Junior Exhibits (Group)
The Path to Freedom	Elly Villeneuve, Briar Kukla (Handy)
911: Never Flying Free Again	Jacob Murawski, Nicholas Ciesla, Eric John Lehman (Handy)
The First NBA Slam Dunk Contest	Freddy Johnson III, Izaia M. Williams (SASA)
Senior Exhibits (Individual)
Muzak: Subconscious Psychological Stimulation via Monotonous Instrumental Harmonies	Aaron Rozin (SASA)
From Tragedy to Progress	Ally Court (CBA)
Colossus: Accomplishing the Impossible and Changing the Course of WWII	Melanie Capaldo (CBA)
Senior Exhibits (Group)
The Battle of Stalingrad	Mason Nelson, Cole Pero, Jerome Gifford (Central)
UAW Sit Down Strike	Anthony Gonzales, Emily Dean, Michael Enwiller (SASA)
Upton Sinclair: The Jungle	Hannah Roesner, Kerri Ramirez, Gabrielle Dosal (SASA)
Junior Papers
Women Strike for Peace: Mothers of the Peace Movement	Blair Donohue (SASA)
The Steam Engine: Harnessing the Power That Changed the World	Brandon Sporman (WMS)
Senior Papers
The Sinking of the Lusitania: Germany?s Demise	Chelsea Szilagyi (CBA)
Penicillin: One of the Greatest Discoveries of the 20th Century	Elisabeth Randall (CBA)
The Evolution of American Music	Emily Rose Green (CBA)
Special Award: For the Best Use of Primary Resources Presented by: the Bay County Historical Society
Sr. Group Exhibit
Upton Sinclair: The Jungle	Hannah Roesner, Kerri Ramirez and Gabrielle Dosal
Junior Paper
Women Strike for Peace: Mothers of the Peace Movement	Blair Donohue (SASA)

Corrine Bloomfield and Sandi Pavlawk Welcome Participants

Judges met early for orientation

Some of the exhibits in Explorers Hall

High Tech was in evidence everywhere.

Students wait their turn to appear before judges

It's been a Long Day!

Maybe next year they'll be a little taller

Crowds filled both floors and the lobby for awards. (Looking to the East)

Crowds filled both floors and the lobby for awards. (Looking to the West)

Catherine Bloomfield (McAlear-Sawden Elementary) is excited by her win!

Winners advance to State Level