FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2011
Contact: Charles E. Summers, Jr.
207-626-8400

Maine’s National History Day Competition Winners Announced

Photo caption: Rep. Devin Beliveau, D-Kittery, (back row, left) and Secretary of State Charles E. Summers, Jr. (back row, right) pose with students from Thornton Academy of Saco, First Place School in the Senior Division of the Maine National History Day Contest held at the University of Maine at Augusta on Wednesday. Beliveau initiated the History Day program at Thornton Academy when he taught there in 2009-10.

AUGUSTA, MAINE—Secretary of State Charles E. Summers, Jr. applauded 250 students for their efforts in preparing presentations for the annual History Day competition, held at the University of Maine at Augusta on Wednesday.

I"m happy to see so many students participating in the events today, said Summers. In understanding our past, we inform our present, and shape our future.

History Day is a national competition where students in grades 6 through 12 compete individually and in small groups by developing websites, performances, exhibits, documentaries and papers on various topics in history. This year’s theme was Debate & Diplomacy: Successes, Failures, Consequences. Competitors were judged by experts in history from Maine. Winners qualify to participate in the National History Day competition held at the University of Maryland outside of Washington, D.C. June 12-16.

The Maine State Archives organizes the statewide competition made possible with the support of the Maine Humanities Council, Maine Historical Society, the Margaret Chase Smith Library, the University of Maine at Augusta, and dozens of historical societies from across the State.

Senate President Kevin Raye addressed the assembly of students, teachers, and parents from 19 Maine schools. He reminded the students that they may one day discover their own role in shaping history. “History is full of people who had ordinary childhoods who later found themselves in situations that called for extraordinary actions,” said Raye. “You, too, can do the same thing.”

Finishing first among schools in the Junior Division was Bonny Eagle Middle School of Buxton. Thornton Academy of Saco placed first in the Senior Division.

2011 Maine National History Day Participating Schools included:
Bonny Eagle High School, Standish
Bonny Eagle Middle School, Buxton
Bruce M. Whittier Middle School, Poland
Brunswick Jr High School, Brunswick
Buckfield Jr/Sr High School, Buckfield
Center Drive School, Orrington
Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School, Deer Isle
Eric L. Knowlton School, Berwick
Gorham Middle School, Gorham
Hartford Sumner Elementary School, Sumner
Loranger Middle School, Old Orchard Beach
Massabesic High School, Waterboro
Massabesic Middle School, Waterboro
Midcoast Maine Homeschool Center, Bath
Noble Middle School, Berwick
Scarborough Middle School, Scarborough
Skowhegan Area Middle School, Skowhegan
Thornton Academy, Saco
TW Kelly Dirigo Middle School, Dixfield

For more information on Maine National History Day please visit: http://umaine.edu/history/national-history-day/