Press release from North Carolina Museum of History:
More than 350 students, advisers and parents from across North Carolina gathered at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh this spring for the 2019 Tar Heel Junior Historian Association (THJHA) Annual Convention. The all-day event featured dynamic learning experiences that help young people appreciate and understand North Carolina’s rich history.
Workshops at the April 26 convention connected to the 2018–2019 themes of Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine: North Carolina’s three geographic regions and the 1960s. Highlights included playwright Mike Wiley’s interactive performance of Breach of Peace and guided tours of the museum’s newest exhibits, One Giant Leap: North Carolina and the Space Race and QuiltSpeak: Uncovering Women’s Voices Through Quilts.
The awards ceremony recognized junior historians for outstanding projects submitted in THJHA contests. The contests encourage students to research the historical significance of people, places and events in their own communities.
All winning projects are showcased in the exhibit History in Every Direction: Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Discovery Gallery, featuring fun and informative hands-on history activities.
“We were excited to have junior historians join us from all across the state this year to share what they’ve discovered,” said Jessica Pratt, THJHA program coordinator.
Student, Chapter and Adviser THJHA Award Winners
Awards are given for outstanding THJHA chapters and advisers, as well as student projects. Categories of competition include media projects, art projects, literary projects and essays, an artifact search, photography projects, and a state history quiz.
Projects encourage students to understand and appreciate our state’s heritage. Groups as well as individuals received awards.
The 2019 Chapter of the Year Award went to Seed History Seekers from Garner Area Homeschoolers. This incredibly active group is passionate about history! Their year has included field trips all over the state to learn more about North Carolina state symbols, cultures and industries. Be it through glasses filled with Cheerwine toasting the Old North State, researching famous North Carolinians, or performing plays for their local community, Seed History Seekers is a wonderful example of a Tar Heel Junior Historian club.
The 2019 Adviser of the Year Award went to Anita Henry of Wild About History MHES Wildcats from Mars Hill Elementary. She has been an adviser of THJHA clubs since 2006, when she saw an opportunity to share her passion for history with her students. This year, with her leadership, the Wild About History MHES club investigated history in their own backyard of Madison County and nearby Avery County. From discovering a World War I prison camp to studying an abandoned theme park based on The Wizard of Oz, Anita Henry’s students were busy, even completing oral histories and competing in annual contests.
The WashinGTon Historians from Washington GT Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh received the 2019 Rookie Chapter of the Year Award. This first-year club jumped right into discovering our state’s history! During the year, they learned about Blackbeard and created treasure maps. Club members took a look at North Carolina’s role in the Revolutionary War and discussed it. They studied World War I, taking a virtual field trip through the North Carolina Museum of History’s WWI exhibit, and role-played as N.C. doughboys writing letters home. The WashinGTon Historians even participated in contests this year. Students enjoyed their activities and are hoping to make their THJHA club a full elective at their school.
*Buncombe County 2019 THJHA Winner*
Winner from Smith-McDowell House, Asheville
Lilliann Stockham, a member of the SMH Over History club, sponsored by the Smith-McDowell House Museum in Asheville, was named a winner in the Artifact Search Contest.
Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jb1l7o17caw0qds/AAB44I5GjeG83LIuZIx5e8j5a?dl=0
*Madison County 2019 THJHA Winners*
Winners from Mars Hill Elementary, Madison County
The 2019 Adviser of the Year Award went to Anita Henry of Wild About History MHES Wildcats from Mars Hill Elementary. She has been an adviser of THJHA clubs since 2006, when she saw an opportunity to share her passion for history with her students. This year, with her leadership, the Wild About History MHES club investigated history in their own backyard of Madison County and nearby Avery County. From discovering a World War I prison camp to studying an abandoned theme park based on The Wizard of Oz, Anita Henry’s students were busy, even completing oral histories and competing in annual contests.
In addition, Allison English won first place in the Literary Contest and Genealogy Award in the elementary division, as well as first place in the Houses Photography Contest.
Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/15a1sfuqwe0t7y9/AAAOVrelA5I15qywQ42dQOqQa?dl=0
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