Monday evening May 5, at the Quality Inn and Suites, Hannibal Evening Kiwanis showed its appreciation in support of sixth graders from Hannibal Middle School who are competing in the National History Day national contest.
Their documentary project won at the school level, the regional competition at Hannibal-LaGrange College, and at the state level, earning them the opportunity to compete nationally at the University of Maryland in June 15 –19.
The theme for this year’s competition is “Conflict and Compromise in History.” The topic challenged students to view history through multiple perspectives, addressing both sides of the theme while answering the questions of time, place, cause and effect, impact and significance. The title of their documentary is, “From the Supreme Court to America’s Home Town: The Conflict, Compromise, and Triumph of School Desegregation Through The Eyes Of A Hannibal High Pirate.”
Their work included research from 1955, when the schools desegregated, and interviews with people who participated in the events. For a few minutes Monday evening they brought a significant part of our history to us sharing their work and their perspective. Evening Kiwanis contributed $300 to help defray the costs of the trip to Washington D.C. for the national competition. For more information about National History Day and the national contest, go to www.nationalhistoryday.org. Pictured are, from left, April Baldwin of Hannibal Evening Kiwanis, Raylynn Charlton, Gabbie Wiley and Melanie Blase. (Photo contributed by Frank DiTillo)
