News Release
June 20, 2006
Denver Students Make History At National History Day
Thirty-two Denver Public Schools middle and high school students, along with twenty-two students from other Colorado school districts, represented the state at the annual National History Day competition at the University of Maryland June 11-15.
Two of the entries presented by Denver students won awards at this highly competitive event that included participants from 48 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and Department of Defense schools.
National History Day is a theme-based program and competition that encourages students to engage in balanced and in-depth research, analyze historical context and impact, draw conclusions, and present their research in the form of an exhibit, documentary, performance, or historical paper. The theme for the 2005-06 National History Day contest was "Taking a Stand in History: People, Ideas, Events."
Ryan Brown, who just completed her junior year at Denver School of the Arts, placed first in the Senior Individual Documentary category. Ryan's entry, "'A Small Voice, But a Strong Voice:' Governor Ralph Carr and the Japanese Americans," focused on former Colorado Governor Carr and his stand against Japanese internment during World War II. In addition to her gold medal, Ryan was awarded $5000 by The History Channel. She also received a partial tuition scholarship to the University of Maryland in College Park. Ryan's teacher was Ed Glassman.
Denver School of the Arts seventh and eighth grade students Phillip Jenkins, Kara Powell, Tia Owens, Nyasha James-Davis, and Shannon Patilla placed second in Junior Group Performance with their entry titled "Fannie Lou Hamer Takes the Stand." Their performance detailed Ms. Hamer's fight for voting rights in Mississippi during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Their teacher was Barbara Allen.
For more information, please contact Becky Muggli, Project Coordinator, Denver Public Schools Gifted & Talented Department. Telephone: 720-423-8274