May 18, 2005 -- Sixteen Shaker Heights High School students will advance to the National History Day finals, following judging at the state level last weekend. Forty of the 45 Shaker students competing at the state level earned some form of recognition. In all, 636 students from across Ohio entered the competition.

Two individuals or groups qualified as National Finalists in each category and will have the opportunity to compete in the NHD National Finals June 12-16 at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The award-winning work took the form of videos, papers, performances, and exhibits created by students after months of research, writing, and refinement.

Shaker students honored at the state competition are as follows.

Research Papers: Lauren Weiss, Honorable Mention, "We shall fight...we shall never surrender": Winston Churchill's World War II Speeches

Individual Exhibits: Steven Aviram, National Finalist, "Wade"-ing Into Telegraphy; Miriam Moore, National Alternate, Tackling Intolerance and Taboo: Simone de Beauvoir Opens Communication for Women's Rights; Helen Morgenstern, Honorable Mention, Riches to be Made: Richard Hakluyt's Promotion of Colonization In the New World; Halle Minshall, Honorable Mention, "Please Remain. You Furnish the Pictures, I'll Furnish the War"

Group Exhibits: Katharine O'Gorman, Miriam Mack, Samantha Miller, Rebecca Glazer, Hannah Engel-Rebitzer, National Finalist, Recitals of Suffering; Alena Kelly, Natalie King, Elizabeth Kannard, Honorable Mention, A Deed for Which a Hun Would Blush: The Sinking of the Lusitania; Erin Cox, Courtney Kinter, Honorable Mention, Soldiers Without Guns; Christin Martahus, Ava Brozovich, Honorable Mention, David C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan; Katie Rohacz, Rachel Oscar, Honorable Mention, Political Hysteria Charged: The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

Group Performances: Nteni Nlandu, Annie Sivertson, Laura Stern, National Finalist, A War Too Close to Home: The Letters of the Civil War; Tarresha Poindexter, Katherine Campbell-Morrison, Allison Tillman, National Alternate, Margaret Sanger and the Birth Control Revolution; Lauren Weinberger, Jenna Stahl, Dan Snider, Rebekah Wadsworth, Lydia Benish, Honorable Mention, The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial: The Story of Two Outspoken Anarchists

Individual Performance: Michael Stavis Bohl, National Finalist, "Poor" Can Go A Long Way

Group Documentaries: Matt Herzfeld, Nick Mercer, National Finalist, Raining Propaganda: Psychological Warfare Leaflets in WW II; Emily Krassen, Kelly Jackson, National Finalist, The Words That Raised the Flag; Nate Bixenstine, Tom Chokel, Andrew Wiedemann, National Alternate, Red in Black and White    

Individual Documentary: Sarah Sy, National Finalist, "The Stone That Started the Ripple": The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments; Carter Wang, National Finalist, The Pentagon Papers: Challenging the Right of Communication; Hyunho Richard Lee, Honorable Mention and winner of the Ohio Archivist Award for Research, Louis Armstrong: Civil Rights Pioneer.

Shaker has amassed an impressive record in History Day competitions at the regional, state, and national levels. Last year, for example, five entries from Shaker finished in the top 10 in their respective categories in the national competition. Two years ago, two Shaker students were first in the nation in the group documentary category.

Students in Advanced Placement U.S. History and Modern European History were required to do extensive research and preparation, develop an original thesis and demonstrate their knowledge and conclusions about this year’s theme, the role of communications in history.

Students were permitted to work in groups or create individual projects. History teachers Tim Mitchell, Dann Parker and Terry Pollack provided guidance and suggested resources along the way.

The Shaker contingent anxiously awaits results at the District competition.
Photo courtesy of Denise O'Gorman.

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