FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2012
Contact: Megan Sanborn
(207) 441-0501

Secretary of State, Charles E. Summers, Jr. Announces Maine's National History Day A Success Again

AUGUSTA, MAINE Secretary of State Charlie Summers applauds all 286 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 pleased to see that so many students from across the state chose to participate in this year s event, 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 Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. 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 10-14.

The Department of the Secretary of State s Office hosts the statewide competition which is 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.

State Archivist, David Cheever, addressed the assembly of students, teachers, and parents. Before revolution, reaction and reform, there has to be a restive society. He reminded students, in order for this to happen there has to be someone who wants revolution, reaction and reform. There were 23 Maine schools that participated, Bonny Eagle High School, Bonny Eagle Middle School, Bruce M. Whittier Middle School, Brunswick Jr High School, Buckfield Jr/Sr High School, Center Drive School, Conners Emerson School, Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School, Dirigo High School, Eric L. Knowlton School, Gorham High School, Gorham Middle School, Hartford Sumner Elementary School, Loranger Middle School, Massabesic High School,
Massabesic Middle School, Midcoast Maine Homeschool Center, Noble Middle School,
Sanford High School, Scarborough Middle School, Skowhegan Area Middle School,
Thornton Academy, and William S. Cohen School.

For the list of winners and more information on Maine National History Day please visit Maine National History Day website.