2003 Nationals, June 14-20, 2003
June 17, 2003
Wisconsin Rocks!
Today’s stories are best told by the students themselves. Though we can’t help but share the news that Wisconsin has two of the top fourteen senior individual documentaries in the nation. Doug Schultz attends Sheboygan North High School and will present his documentary entitled “Sati: The Burning of a Widow” in the final run off round tomorrow morning. Ryan Clark, with his documentary “The Sound of Change and the Right of Expression: The Right to be Different, Equal and Free,” will also present in the final round.
Kris and Emma
Incredibly Exciting Day
Tonight I had my final round of judging. Fourteen projects made it from about one hundred, so it’s a great honor to have made it this far. I did an individual performance about Angelina Grimke Weld. She was an abolitionist and women’s rights activist in the early 1800’s. She was also the first woman to testify before a state legislature. I was the first project to perform tonight. I was very relieved to have finished it, but also a bit sad because I knew that it was the last time, I would become Angelina Grimke for NHD. It’s been such a great experience, and I’ve learned a lot about how to conduct research, analyze the facts, and write a powerful presentation in my own words. All the time I spent on this project (about 4 hours a day for 3 months) has definitely been worth it! I can relate tonight to part of my performance. “. . . There was a great pressure on me being the first woman to do so, and I felt inferior to the task. In the end it was not my greatest effort, but it got the message out there, and the chairman was in tears.” I was the first project on, so I didn’t really know what to expect from the judges and other performances. It was one of the worst times I’ve ever done my performance (I still can’t remember the correct lines for that part I flubbed up on.) But of course the judges weren’t in tears . . . Anyway, I’ve had a great time so far this week! It’s been incredibly exciting and I can’t wait to find out what happens tomorrow!
K.C. Peck
K.C. Peck and Kielty Wintersteen
attend School of Technology and Arts II
in La Crosse.
Rainy Day
Today we went to Mount Vernon, we were supposed to go see Senator Feingold, but we couldn’t find any parking spots at the Metro Station so we decided to go to Mount Vernon. MV was okay, it was raining a lot, but there was good food.
Kielty Wintersteen
 Shane Hansen attends D.C. Everest
Junior High School in Schofield.
Today was a day of fun and sight-seeing for our group. The Junior Division competed yesterday while the Seniors toured D.C., so today was our turn. First we went to Chinatown and shopped around in Chinese shops. Then we couldn’t resist going to a Starbucks Café, from which we proceeded to the Hard Rock Café. We wanted to see Ford’s Theater where Lincoln was shot, but it was being renovated. On our way to the Old Post Office we ran into some street vendors selling cheap Foakleys (fake Oakleys) and jewelry, so we stopped and bought some. We spent about an hour there, shopping, eating, and touring the tower. The guys also went to ESPN Zone, then met back up with the group, to visit the Smithsonian’s, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam and Korean War Memorial. After that we came back for supper of chicken, cake, and salad. Right now we’re having a party in our state’s lounge with music, soda, food and games, but we have to get to bed pretty soon by midnight.
Shane Hansen
 Caroline Fallon and Anne Marie
Rodriguez
attend Memorial High School
in Madison.
One of Senator Kohl's
summer interns,
a former History
Day student in Texas
was eager to
pose with these Wisconsin NHD-ers.
Big Day
Today was the big day which we had our performance. Although we didn’t make it to the finals we did the best we could and are proud of ourselves. Two others who were in individual documentary from Wisconsin did make it into the final round, so the day wasn’t complete loss. We have been observing others’ projects and are already planning for next year. We can’t wait until we have a chance to compete again. Of course, we took advantage of being so close to Washington, D.C. and did a lot for tourism. Fortunately for all of us staying in the dorms there is a shuttle bus which takes people from here to the Metro Station. We buy day passes and are able to wherever we want. Caroline drove here with her family so we went up to meet with them and sightsee together. Annemarie also has her brother Robert and her mom to be with. Yesterday we toured the Mall and were able to see all of the monuments. All of us took lots of pictures. It was fortunate that we saw the outside sites yesterday because it rained just about all day today. We saw the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which is the largest Church in North America. Next we visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. That was very interesting and there was something for everyone to enjoy. This has been a great experience for all of us.
Annemarie Rodriguez and Caroline Fallon
 Ryan Clark attends D.C. Everest High
School in Schofield.
Despite the rain, my hair gel is still just as hard as it was this morning! Today has been an amazing day! It started out slow. But after 2 coffees, 2 doughnuts, and cereal, I was more than ready to go then I thought possible. After the adrenaline wore off, the interview was over. Well they laughed, smiled, and asked me some really tough questions. But I flew through them with confidence! I hung out with my friends from Nevada, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Wisconsin and had so much fun! And when they put posters on the wall [announcing the finalists] I screamed, kicked my heels, and hugged random people! Not only did I get in the top fourteen, the other individual documentary from Wisconsin made it too. It is awesome. I am so proud of my friends even if they aren’t going on. NHD has been an amazing experience. Life is great.
Ryan Clark
June 18, 2003
 Kris Maldre and Emma Starzewski
NHD in Wisconsin Leaders
With senior finals completed and the last bit of touring squeezed in, Team Wisconsin is one happily exhausted bunch of NHD-ers. Many Wisconsinites came to cheer on Doug Schultz and Ryan Clark as they presented their senior individual documentaries to the final judges. Both students did great work, and we’re extremely proud of them! Then this afternoon, more than half of the Wisconsin delegation was treated to a fantastic meeting with Senator Kohl at the Hart Office Building in D.C. We were especially happy to learn that Eric Olson, one of Senator Kohl’s interns, participated in History Day for three years as a student in Texas and even made it to nationals once. Yes, NHD-ers are everywhere! Tomorrow morning is the awards ceremony, which the students are tremendously excited about. The student parade that happens beforehand in the field house will be well ornamented with cows of every shape and size (including costumed students and an inflatable version on a fishing pole). It’s been a fabulous, rewarding year and many of the students are already looking forward to the next. On Wisconsin!
Kris and Emma
 Janet Yearous attends Lancaster
High School and Anne Marie
is a home school student in
Waunakee.
We thought we might tell you about our adventures today. The finals for Senior Performances were going on this morning, so we decided to stop by and watch a few. They were all well done. After that, we joined Annie’s family and toured Washington D.C. First our weary feet carried us through the science and history portions of the Smithsonian Institute Our favorite part of the science museum was the gems exhibit, which featured the Hope diamond, which cursed us later on (as you will read). Our favorite display in the History Museum was the touching 9-11 exhibit. We also visited briefly the Holocaust Museum. Journeying back was a different experience. First we encountered rush hour on the Metro (very squished!). Secondly, Annie’s parents’ car would not start, so we were stuck at a hotel with no way of getting back to campus. But after having a microwave dinner and fiddling around with Annie’s dad’s snazzy new rental car, we got safely back to the dorms. As you can see, we’ve had a fun day and we hope all of you have too back in good ol’ Wisconsin. Good night!
Anne Marie Wilde
Janet Yearous
 Janice Lacock is a teacher at EAGLE
School of Madison.
So finally, from one of the teachers here at National History Day… I’m Janice Lacock, a teacher from the EAGLE School in Madison, and I am here with one of my sixth grade students, Lissie Howell-Little. It hasn’t been “all fun and games” here as a teacher/chaperone!!! No really, we had workshops to attend on Monday—getting “a head start” on next year’s theme. On Tuesday we went to a special program at the Library of Congress (mundane you may say!) and today, because Lissie’s exhibit was chosen to be displayed over the summer at the Museum of Health and Medicine, we got to spend the day at the museum as a guest of the museum staff. Lissie felt that it was a great honor to have her exhibit chosen, but the museum staff managed to switch things around and made us feel that it was an honor for them to have us pay them a visit! We got a special tour of the museum and an extra special trip behind the scenes to see the extensive medical collection. We rounded off the day with some sight seeing and now I’m off to pack my bags for the trip back to Madison tomorrow. What a week it has been!
Janice Lacock, EAGLE School
 Megan Rosa attends West Milwaukee
Middle School.
This has been the best school activity vacation I’ve done. This is my first year and now I know why the [NHD registration] book said “No floats.” I can’t believe the people here. People are really in to this pin thing. They are paying an arm and a leg for one pin. It is crazy. It is kind of funny watching the people trade.
Megan Rosa
 Sierra Korthof attends Waukesha
South High School.
This trip has been so much fun. I think I really got a taste of what D.C. is all about. On Monday Mrs. Gardner, my mom, Julia and I went to “the Mall” and most likely saw every monument. It was a lot of walking! My feet sure thought so anyway. Our nice plastic beds in the dorms didn’t look too bad that night! Tuesday was a little more laid back. After my judging, we all got dressed up and hit the metro. While we were at the mall in Georgetown, we stopped in for a fantastic dinner at Mrs. Garner’s favorite Georgetown Restaurant, Clyde’s. It was scrumptious. Next we traveled to the Kennedy Center to catch a play called “All the Great Books.” We learned about 22 of the greatest books of all time within an hour and 50 minutes! Talk about Cramming! Today was a sad day, however. Julia (my best friend from Germany who came along to give me support) left to go back to Waukesha to meet her parents. I am lonely now sitting in my room with no one to laugh and joke with. But I would say today was a very cultured day filled with art, ethnic food and of course, history. We visited the Corcoran for the scholastic show ) go Waukesha South—two students from my school made it to the national level), the Smithsonian, the Hershorn Sculpture Garden and the National Museum of American History. After we filled our heads with visual beauty it was time to fill our stomachs with Chinese food. I can’t remember the name of the place right now, but the egg rolls were very good. That pretty much sums up the experience so far. Next I will be pondering how to get all our stuff I brought with me back into my suitcase. Wish me luck!
Sierra Korthof
June 19, 2003
 The 2003 Wisconsin
NHD National Finalists
State pride filled the air yesterday at the NHD Awards Ceremony and the Wisconsin spirit was seen and heard with cows, cheese, and the occasional Packer item. Even though, none of the Wisconsin students were awarded a prize as one of the top three in their category, Katherine Peck was awarded the Junior Division Best of State for her performance “Angelina Grimke Weld: "I Will Lift Up My Voice." Katherine attends School of the Arts and Technology II in La Crosse. The Senior Division Best of State Award was given to Doug Schultz of Sheboygan North High School. Doug created a documentary entitled “Sati: The Burning of a Widow.”
As representatives of Wisconsin, our national finalists were amazing ambassadors. Their History Day projects, enthusiastic attitudes, and desire to learn more about history was definitely noticed on the University of Maryland – College Park campus. Most students are looking forward to next year and have already started contemplating the 2003-2004 theme “Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.”
Thank you for tuning in and watching our D.C. adventures.
Kris and Emma
June 20, 2003
The Awards Ceremony
State pride filled the air yesterday at the NHD Awards Ceremony and the Wisconsin spirit was seen and heard with cows, cheese, and the occasional Packer item. Even though, none of the Wisconsin students were awarded a prize as one of the top three in their category, Katherine Peck was awarded the Junior Division Best of State for her performance “Angelina Grimke Weld: "I Will Lift Up My Voice." Katherine attends School of the Arts and Technology II in La Crosse. The Senior Division Best of State Award was given to Doug Schultz of Sheboygan North High School. Doug created a documentary entitled “Sati: The Burning of a Widow.”
As representatives of Wisconsin, our national finalists were amazing ambassadors. Their History Day projects, enthusiastic attitudes, and desire to learn more about history was definitely noticed on the University of Maryland – College Park campus. Most students are looking forward to next year and have already started contemplating the 2003-2004 theme “Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.”
Thank you for tuning in and watching our D.C. adventures.
Kris and Emma |
