Local students compete in annual History Day

Three students with awards and a professor
Competitors at the Western District History Contest pose in the ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç State College Student Center, March 14, 2025. From left, CSC Assistant Professor Dr. Sam Herley, Miranda Betson, Garett Tollman, and Joe Lambert of Crawford, Neb. The students are the winners of a Sandoz Society Great Plains Special Award. (Photo by Tena L. Cook/ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç State College)

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CHADRON – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç State College successfully hosted the annual Western District History Day March 14.

A variety of categories were offered for high school and middle school student competitors, including individual and group websites, documentaries, research papers, and tabletop exhibits. The three winners in each category will advance to the Nebraska State Contest in Lincoln on April 12. The national theme is Rights and Responsibilities.

Additional awards were presented to the best overall project on military history and the two best projects featuring Nebraska or Great Plains History.

Results for the junior division, senior division, and special awards are below.                

Junior Division (Grades 6-8)

Individual Exhibit

1, Sylvia Stewart of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, The Rights of Women During the Salem Witch Trials; 2, Fox Crofutt of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, America’s Entry into The Great War; 3, Rhedyn Rising of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster.

Group Exhibit

1, Leea Lambert and Lizzy Lambert of Crawford, Sheepmen vs Cattlemen; 2, Ayden Anderson and Daniel Bronson of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, Pearl Harbor.

Individual Website

1, Adam Curd of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, The Creation of Israel.

Group Website

1, Jett Paopao and Meredith Werner of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, Rights and Responsibilities: The Effect Larry Nassar had on Women’s Gymnastics.

Individual Paper

1, Emily Roberts of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, Salem Witch Trials; 2, Caseton Brunsch of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, Norse Mythology.

Senior Division (Grades 9-12)

Individual Documentary

1, Justus Frahm of Crawford, Was it Necessary.

Group Documentary

1, Miranda Betson, Joe Lambert, and Garett Tollman of Crawford, FFA Taking the Responsibility to Lead Agriculture.

Individual Website

1, Tatiana Abdelgabar of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Special Awards

Military History Special Award

Fox Crofutt of ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, America’s Entry into the Great War.

Mari Sandoz Society Special Award: Individual

Sawyer Moody of Crawford, Crawford Livestock: More Than Just a Salesbarn.

Mari Sandoz Society Special Award: Group

Miranda Betson, Joe Lambert, and Garett Tollman of Crawford,  FFA Taking the Responsibility to Lead Agriculture.

-Shelby Westinghouse

Category: Campus News, Social Sciences