National History Day success for Air Force families Published April 8, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs BISMARCK, N.D. -- Students from across the state participated in the National History Day North Dakota State Contest 2008 which was held April 4 at the N.D. state capital. The competition was host to 57 students, to include students from local schools such as Memorial Junior High School, Glenburn High School and Central Campus High School, and 46 project entries. There were 15 students from Minot AFB families. This year's theme was "Conflict and Compromise in History." Students were asked to view history through a multitude of perspectives. They were asked to explain the relationship of their topic with this year's theme. Students then had the opportunity to construct papers, exhibits, web sites and documentary presentations and projects. Each year, students participate in regional, state and national competitions. Students are permitted to work individually or in groups. They are given the option of doing their project based upon one of four choices: individual paper, performance, media documentary or an exhibit. The competition benefits students by promoting: reading, writing, research, development of a thesis, interpreting primary sources, analyzing data, amalgamating information and connecting with fellow students interested in history. "I wanted to do something out of the ordinary," said Mason Mendenhall, 13, Memorial Junior High. Mendenhall did his project on the Treaty of Ghent, which was an agreement between the United States and England to end the War of 1812. "It's not really well known, not a lot of people know about it and I wanted to teach them!" he said. Mendenhall wasn't the only student excited to talk about his project. Drew Penrod and Austin Sorrells of Central Campus High School told the story of the Treaty of Versailles. "We studied it previously in class and wanted to learn why it didn't solve World War I," Sorrells explained. "The treaty was meant to punish the Germans," Penrod said. After the treaty, the Germans began rebuilding everything from their crippled economy to their defeated military in preparation for an even more costly war; World War II. "It's amazing we got to do it in the capital!" Sorrells exclaimed. "I read a book in third grade based on my project and wanted to do it," said Elizabeth C. Miller, 14, Glenburn High School. Her project was on "The Disappearance of Franklins' Crew." English explorer John Franklin and his crew set out on a search for the Northwest Passage when they mysteriously disappeared into time. "After doing the project, I know I want to do forensics as a career," Miller said. "I like finding out what happened in history." Students were graded on historical quality, clarity of presentation and adherence to the theme. Is the entry historically accurate? Is the entry effective in communicating the significance of the topic? Does the entry clearly explain how the topic relates to the NHD theme? Of the 15 students from Minot AFB, five advanced to the national competition in Washington D.C. this June. Those students are: First Place, Group Senior Exhibit: Drew Penrod and Austin Sorrells and "Versailles: 1919" - Drew is son of Lt. Col. James Penrod and Austin is son of Capt. Corey Harvey, 91st Space Wing First Place, Senior Website: Cody Hagel and the "Trail of Tears" - daughter of Master Sgt. Duane Hagel, 5th Bomb Wing Second Place, Individual Junior Exhibit: Mason Mendenhall and the "Treaty of Ghent" - son of Lt. Col. Robert Mendenhall, 91st SW Third Place, Senior Paper: Joseph Ogea and "My Time with Hap" - son of Lt. Col. Joseph Ogea, 5th BW Third Place, Individual Senior Documentary: Patrick Lahr and "Apple vs. Apple: Conflict and Compromise" - son of retired Tech. Sgt. Michael Lahr, 5th BW For more information regarding NHD, call (301) 314-9739 or logon to http://www.nhd.org.