(Posted March 23, 2009)


HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's yearly History Day district competition will be noted for the ages Wednesday, April 1 at Juniata College. Students from 25 middle and high schools are expected to participate in the event, which focuses on the theme "The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies."

Participating schools are: Bedford Middle School; Bedford High School; Hollidaysburg Area High School; Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School; Huntingdon Area High School; Huntingdon Area Middle School; Juniata Valley Junior and Senior High School; Lewistown Area High School; Eichhorn Middle School; Strodes Mills Middle School; Middleburg High School; Park Forest Middle School; Mount Nittany Middle School; Selinsgrove Area Middle School; Selinsgrove Area High School; Shikellamy High School; Central High School; Spring Cove Middle School; Southern Huntingdon County High School; State College Area High School; Tyrone Area Middle School; Tyrone Area High School; Tussey Mountain Area Senior High School; and West Snyder Middle School. Several home-schooled students also are competing.

The event, which usually brings in more than 300 students, teachers, student observers and parents, will be the 24th year that Juniata College has hosted the History Day competition at the district level. The district encompasses Blair, Centre, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin and Snyder counties.

History Day registration is from 8 to 8:45 a.m. in the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center. After the day's activities have ended, awards will be presented at 2 p.m. in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Science Center.

Students can compete in any of nine categories: Historical paper (1,500-2,500 words, individuals only); individual exhibit; group exhibit; individual Web site; group Web site; individual performance (such as short plays or interpretive readings); group performance; individual documentaries; and group documentaries.

Entries are judged in two divisions. The junior division includes students in grades 6-8. The senior division includes students in grades 9-12. Judges for the competition will be Juniata College students studying in history, politics, secondary education, social studies, business, psychology and other programs.

During the competition, visiting students, faculty and guests can tour the Juniata campus, drop in on classes and eat lunch courtesy of the history department.

The History Day finals -- open for students finishing first or second at the regional level -- will be held May 6-7 at Millersville University in Millersville, Pa. The national finals are held June 14-15 at the University of Maryland in College Park.

History Day encourages students to research and prepare papers, projects, performances and media presentations, and to have their work judged by historians, educators and others.


Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.