VUHS Students Shine At State History Competition

photo provided Erin Conway: State Champion in Single Documentary with her entry on Protest Music of the 1960's

photo provided Jessica Sturtevant: State Champion in Single Performance with her portrayal of First Female Lawyer; Myra Colby Bradwell

photo provided Keith Bouchard with State Champions Thomas Swenor and Chris Holwager with their exhibit on Commodore Thomas MacDonough and Taking A Stand at the Battle of Plattsburgh

    Saturday, April 8th saw the gathering of the largest amount of students from across the state in the history of the Vermont History Day Competition. Over 230 students came together to demonstrate their research, findings, and conclusions in their own personal projects. Categories at the competition included thesis papers, performance, documentary, and exhibits. Within these choices were further categories based on single or group entries and junior and senior divisions.

Governor Douglas was on hand to congratulate the historians and Congressman Bernie Sanders spoke to his own involvement with the study of history as a catalyst for change in the present. While Vergennes Union High School has sent a group of students to this competition for the past 22 years, this year's group was the smallest and newest in that only one student had competed previously. Much to the delight of the groups, they turned in one-second-place finish and three first place finishes in a highly competitive age group. Finishing in second place with a group video on the land planning in Vermont was Eliza Thompson, Emily Poquette, and Melissa Partington. Bringing home top honors and heading for National History Day in June in College Park, Maryland are Erin Conway with her winning video on Protest Music, and Thomas Swenor and Chris Holwager with their winning exhibit on Commodore Thomas MacDonough and the Battle of Plattsburgh.

While in Washington the group will tour the Smithsonian, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, and many other exciting places in the nation's capital. Vermont History Day is a part of the National History Day program that focuses students on researching and making connections with their local, state, national and global history. The group will be fundraising the cost of the trip with a dinner, raffle, and seeking local support. Accompanying them on the trip will be parents and UVM student teacher Keith Bouchard who helped mentor the students in the research process.