STUDENTS IN AREA DO WELL IN HISTORY COMPETITION

They already have shown their dominance over local competitors, and on Saturday some 140 students will test their knowledge of historical facts at the state National History Day competition in Columbia.

As usual the Southeast Missouri region will send the largest group of qualifiers to the state competition, and, if history repeats itself, the region will be well-represented at the national competition June 11 through 15.

St. Vincent de Paul School was a major winner in this year's regional contest. Teacher Sharon Thompson will accompany students in eight of the region's 21 junior division entries to the state competition.

Tom Miller of the Western Historical Manuscript Collection in Columbia, which co-sponsors the state competition, said: "That really speaks volumes about how well the students do at St. Vincent de Paul. For a school to do so well is a wonderful statement of the teacher's dedication and the commitment from the students."

"We have had a number of national winners from the district," said Southeast Missouri State University professor Dr. Frank Nickell, who coordinates the regional National History Day contest. "We've been very successful."

History Day is a national competition where students make presentations relevant to the annual theme. Students competing this year developed projects around the theme "Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events."

Entries varied this year with students discussing such diverse topics as the Little Rock Nine, the interstate highway system and penicillin. Events are divided into categories based on age and method of presentation. Students may deliver their topics individually or in groups, using historical papers, table exhibits, visual or media presentations.

"They kind of approach the particular theme and put together an exhibit that will hopefully display some individual research and thought," said Miller. "It fosters pride in personal heritage and in our nation's history."

Nickell said a teacher's enthusiasm, and not a school district's enrollment, will determine how well students perform in the event. He pointed to the success of the Greenville School District, a Wayne County district of nearly 900 students, and the Risco School District, an even smaller district of slightly more than 200 students in New Madrid County.

Both districts annually are represented at state History Day competitions. Greenville can boast of two back-to-back first-place national finishes in recent years. And last year tiny Risco had more state winners than any district in the state.

"It's not the size of the school that determines success at the state and national levels, it's the time and effort students put into it and the direction the teachers provide," Nickell said. "History Day's success is based upon the work and dedication of a teacher who can lead and direct the students to the proper combination of sources, information and then, interpretation."

Miller said the event builds skills in reading, comprehension, critical thinking and solving problems. In addition, the event also could lead students into a career related to history.

"Certainly it benefits students, teachers and parents, because it can turn into much more than a regional and state competition," said Miller. "It can lead to scholarship dollars and, we hope, even careers."