Posted on Friday, April 05, 2024
Georgia middle and high school students participating in this month’s National History Day state contest plan to spotlight key people and moments that have made an impact on our country and world.
The state event, which takes place on April 20, will be the third time the college serves as the host for National History Day, an organization celebrating its 50th anniversary.
“This milestone is an incredible achievement,” said History Professor and National History Day Georgia Co-Affiliate Coordinator Dr. Kevin Shirley. “Born out of Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University history department that was concerned about the decline in the study of humanities, NHD became a global phenomenon in which students stake a claim of ownership in their learning and become historians—engaging in the same process professional historians use to find answers to their questions.”
NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn, who has been involved with the nationwide program for 42 years, said she finds fulfillment every day in her work.
“To be part of a program that is helping future generations become thoughtful citizens is quite profound,” she said. “NHD continues to help young people make sense of the present by understanding the past in order to be part of the future.”
The competition has provided LaGrange College with a platform to reach more students.
“NHD is a living expression of the college’s commitment to service and transformation—in many ways projecting the priorities and values articulated in the college’s mission statement outward—across the state and the region,” Dr. Shirley said.
Senior Hayleigh Sebaugh, who serves as an intern for NHD GA, said this role has given her opportunities to mentor competitors, build connections and even travel to the national contest in Washington, D.C.
“This has been a valuable learning experience,” she said. “As National History Day celebrates its 50th anniversary, I am incredibly grateful to be a part of it.”
This year’s state contest will have 450 students and 257 projects. A total of 130 volunteers will be needed to serve as judges.
Competitors, working either individually or in a group, will present their projects through one of five media: Historical Paper, Exhibit, Performance, Documentary or Website. This year’s theme is “Turning Points in History.”
Judges from each category advance the top two state entries to the national contest that will be held June 9-13 at the University of Maryland in College Park.
Since 2014, LC has served as the state co-sponsor of National History Day with Georgia Humanities.
Dr. Shelly Lowe, chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, said NHD has enriched the lives of countless students over the course of its existence.
“For 50 years, National History Day has inspired young people with curiosity about the past and given them the tools to conduct their own historical research,” she said. “The National Endowment for the Humanities is extremely proud to have played a role in National History Day’s growth from a small pilot project into a national program that reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year.”
People interested in serving as a volunteer judge for the state contest can register on the NHD GA website.
LIVE@LC: Activism: Individual & Community
Monday, April 8
4 p.m., Bailey Room
BCM Night of Fellowship
Monday, April 8
6:30 p.m., Residential Quad
Dr. Kevin Shirley-Installation of Ethel Dallis Hill Professor of History
Tuesday, April 9
3 p.m., Beason Recital Hall, West Side
What Was She Wearing?
Wednesday, April 10
3 p.m., Dickson Assembly Room
LIVE@LC: Problem-Solving Skills are Essential for Leaders
Wednesday, April 10
4 p.m., Corn Auditorium
LIVE@LC: Invisible Leadership
Thursday, April 11
11 a.m., Corn Auditorium
LIVE@LC: Ethical Leadership
Thursday, April 11
3 p.m., Corn Auditorium
Screening of “Steffen Thomas: Rock & Chisel” and Q&A with Filmmaker Jesse Freeman
Thursday, April 11
5:30 p.m., Beason Recital Hall, West Side
Hailey Palmer ’25: "Join us for Preview Day-April 13."
Spring Preview Day is an excellent way for prospective students and families to find out more about LaGrange College. Get a look at life as a Panther by meeting with current students and faculty, learning about academic programs and getting a personal view of campus. Register at athletebody.net.
Baseball
The Panthers stalled in their Covenant College series 1-2 March 29-30. LC won its first game 7-0 but took 9-8 and 7-5 losses in its doubleheader. On Tuesday, the team bounced back with a 12-8 win at Oglethorpe. LC will be on the road to face Berry College on Tuesday, April 9, at 6 p.m.
Softball
LC lost 8-0 and 9-0 in its doubleheader against Belhaven on Thursday, March 28. The Panthers will be at home taking on Maryville on Friday, April 5, (today), at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The team will celebrate senior day prior to their doubleheader against Berea College on Saturday, April 6. The game start times are noon and 2 p.m.
Golf
The Panthers placed 10th in the Wynlakes Intercollegiate this past week. Sophomore Jeremy Edmunds placed sixth overall out of 74 players. The team does not play this week.
Lacrosse
LC will host Greensboro College on Saturday, April 6, at noon.
Junior Ryan Comeau was named USAC Offensive Player of the Week. In the team’s 22-9 victory over Huntingdon, Comeau scored a team-high six goals on 12 shots.
Women’s Tennis
The Panthers fell to Piedmont 0-9 on Monday, April 1. The team hosts Berea College on Saturday, April 6, and Maryville College on Sunday, April 7.
Men’s Tennis
LC lost its match to Piedmont 0-9 on Monday, April 1. The Panthers will play at home against Berea College on Saturday, April 6 and Maryville College on Sunday, April 7.
Beach Volleyball
The Panthers lost 5-0 against Huntingdon in the final game of the season on Thursday, April 4.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, April 5 – Softball (Home) vs. Maryville, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Saturday, April 6 – Men’s Tennis (Home) vs. Berea, noon, Greer Tennis Courts
Saturday, April 6 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. Berea, noon, Greer Tennis Courts
Saturday, April 6 – Softball (Home) vs. Berea, noon and 2 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Saturday, April 6 – Lacrosse (Home) vs. Greensboro, noon, Panther Field
Sunday, April 7 – Men’s Tennis (Home) vs. Maryville, noon, Greer Tennis Courts
Sunday, April 7 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. Maryville, noon, Greer Tennis Courts
Tuesday, April 9 – Softball at Huntingdon, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Tuesday, April 9 – Baseball at Berry, 6 p.m., Rome, Georgia
Wednesday, April 10 – Lacrosse at Piedmont, 7 p.m., Demorest, Georgia
Category: Events, Academics
Keywords: History, Education