HCS Students Earn Accolades at Prestigious National History Day Contest in Washington, D.C.
HENRY COUNTY, GA – Eight Henry County Schools students were selected to showcase their historical research projects in Washington, D.C., during the National History Day (NHD) Contest this summer.
Half-a-million students worldwide completed historical research projects based on the theme “Turning Points in History,” which celebrates NHD’s 50th anniversary.
The students competed in local and affiliate contests with the top performers from all 50 states, Washington D.C., U.S. territories, and international schools invited to compete in the NHD contest in the nation’s capital.
This year, 62 of the nearly 3,000 students who advanced to the National Contest were from Georgia, including eight HCS students, who presented a total of four projects:
- Ola High School student Madelyn Reardanz, an accomplished NHD participant, placed first at the state level and represented Georgia in the 2024 National History Day Exhibit Showcase, placing fourth in the nation for her Senior Individual Exhibit, titled “Maynard for Mayor.”
“I was very excited to make it to nationals and proud to represent Georgia as the three-time, back-to-back state champion in Individual Exhibit,” Reardanz said. “I also enjoyed getting to meet people from around the globe. It was truly an honor to be selected by Georgia Humanities to have my project on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This year, my project was on Maynard Jackson, the first African American mayor of Atlanta and any major southern city.”
- Ola Middle School students Michael Peterson and Kennedy Reardanz won first place at the state level, qualifying for the national competition, where their documentary, “Ida B. Wells: A Turning Point in the Perspective of Lynching,” earned them a top-10 finish in the Junior Group category.
- Ola Middle School students Kayla DeBlois, Nevaeh Dowell, Chana Oden, and Morgan Walker placed second at the state level. They received the American Labor History Award for their Junior Group Performance, titled “The Washerwomen Strike of 1881.
The American Labor Studies Center presents the award for an outstanding entry involving an aspect of American labor history. The students' exceptional performance distinguished HCS as the only public school system in Georgia to win an award at the NHD Contest. - Woodland Middle School student Ariana Smith placed second at the state level and qualified to participate in the Junior Individual category with her project, “I Want You to Know What They Did to My Boy/The Death of Innocence.”
Two of the four student projects selected from Georgia to be showcased at the Smithsonian were from HCS, including Madelyn Reardanz’s “Maynard for Mayor” project, along with “The Washerwomen Strike of 1881” by DeBlois, Dowell, Oden, and Walker.
Ola Middle School eighth-grade Georgia Studies teacher Zachary Barfield sponsors participants from Ola Middle School and Ola High School. NHD teachers/sponsors help students cultivate their love of history.
“Each year, National History Day coordinators in each state select two exceptional projects to receive the National History Day Outstanding Affiliate Award,” Barfield said. “Both Outstanding Affiliate Awards for the state of Georgia went to Henry County School students. Madelyn received the award for the high school division, and Kennedy and Michael for the middle school division. We are very proud of all our students.”
National History Day seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history by taking middle and high school students beyond the classroom to bring history to life.
Preparing for the NHD contest helps students develop an in-depth knowledge of American History and provides opportunities through state and national competition to help them to explore their passions and expand their knowledge. Through the NHD-Explore program, students visited historical sites and museums in Washington, D.C., and met Congress members and prominent civil rights activists.
“The exceptional performances of our students and teachers have made HCS one of the most accomplished NHD competitors in the state,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Carl Knowlton. “I applaud them for their outstanding performance, which reflects hard work and dedication. I also thank our teachers and leaders for their tireless investment in our students and facilitating programs that empower them with opportunities, access, and outcomes and equip them with essential college, career, and life skills.”
About Henry County Schools
Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 53 schools and located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past two decades, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000.
HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.
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