Maine students place in National History Day competition
Five Maine students earned honors for their creative research presentations at the 2021 National History Day virtual competition in June.
Maya Faulstich, an eighth grader from Frank H. Harrison Middle School in Yarmouth, earned second place in the National History Day (NHD) competition for her individual performance in “A Climate Carol,” which highlights the lasting influence of the 1950s–1970s “Keep America Beautiful” campaign on public views about litter and trash. Faulstich is the first Maine student to place in the Junior Individual Performance category; her performance can be viewed online.
Other Maine projects honored include an Outstanding Affiliate Award in the junior division for “Communicating with Children: How Fred Rogers Approached Tough Topics with Kids,” a documentary by Jillian Muller, Charlotte McGreevy, and Brittany Carrier from Buckfield Junior–Senior High School, and a first place in the senior division for the website “United States Involvement in the Vietnam War: The Impacts of Multimedia on Mainstream Opinion and U.S. Foreign Policy” by Uyen Nguyen from John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor.
NHD is an internationally recognized program that promotes the study and learning of history to middle and high school aged students. Participants conduct independent research on a topic that aligns with the NHD annual theme and present their work via a performance, exhibit, documentary, website, or paper. All entries are judged by professionals in the field of history. This year’s theme was “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding.”
Maine sponsors of NHD include the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation, the University of Maine, and the Maine Masonic College. Regional contests are held annually in Lewiston and Bangor, and the state final at UMaine. The national contest, which has been held virtually for the last 2 years, typically takes place at the University of Maryland in College Park where state winners compete against students from all over the world.
To learn more about the program contact NHD State Coordinator John Taylor, john.m.taylor@maine.edu.