Let's Hear It for the Families

Family members were just PHENOMENAL supporters of all our students. Thanks so much for being part of the Illinois delegation!

You are ALL Winners!

Here are pictures from around NHD this week, doing the "NHD thing."

We hope it'll trigger memories that you will want to share with us--and with next year's students so they'll have some idea of the great experience that awaits them. Just click on the comments and tell us about some experience triggered by these pictures, be it the pizza party, frisbees, button trading, your presentation to NHD judges, the dorms, the hotels, something you did in D.C. or Baltimore, ice cream and poster-making party, awards, etc.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to each and every member of the Illinois NHD 2006 delegation! You made this year an experience to remember and represented the very best of our state through your positive attitudes and historical scholarship.

A record-breaking TEN Illinois projects from 22 students qualified for the Finals and two additional projects earned special prizes. A special congratulations goes out to:

· Rahul Gorawara, 2nd place in Senior Papers, from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire for "Gautreaux vs. the Chicago Housing Authority." Rahul's teacher is Chris Salituro.

· Chelsea Farmer, 9th place in Junior Papers, from Ogden Elementary School in Chicago for "Architectural Preservation Pioneer." Chelsea's teacher is Eric Calderon.

· Keli Walsh, 4th place in Junior Individual Documentaries, from St. Luke Academy in Chicago for "Standing Up for Chicago." Keli's teacher is Laura Abrahamson. "Standing Up for Chicago" also won Outstanding Junior Division State Entry from Illinois.

· Peter Contos, 12th place in Junior Individual Exhibits, from Polymath Academy Home School in Chicago for "Standing Against Stereotype: The Liberation of Aunt Jemima." Peter's teacher is Leslie Contos.

· Abigael Morris, Madeline Piller, Isaac Piller, Stevie Croisant, and Haley Sack, 5th place in Junior Group Performance, from Northbrook School in Mendota for "Radium Girls." The students' teacher is Susan Sack.

· Rachael Brown and Deen Rosenberg, 14th place in Junior Group Performance, from Ogden Elementary School in Chicago for "The Jewish Labor Committee." Rachael and Deen's teacher is Eric Calderon.

· Agnes Mazur, Callie McCune, and Mona Ghadiri, 7th place in Senior Group Documentary, from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire for "Carrying the Burden: The Story of Clyde Kennard." The students' teacher is Barry Bradford. "Carrying the Burden" also won the Outstanding Senior Division State Entry from Illinois.

· Gian Santos, 5th place in Senior Individual Exhibit, from Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest for "Justice through Science: Kameny's Pioneering Defense of Homosexuality."

· Montana Young and Ivan Favelevic, 13th place in Senior Group Exhibits, from Lincoln Park High School in Chicago for "Blacks in the White City: Taking a Stand at the Fair." The students' teachers are A. Ahmad and Jennifer Johnson.

· Felipe Rodriguez, Eliseo Martinez, Aracely Gutierrez, Sarah Peara, and Aracelli Gonzales, 11th place in Senior Group Performances, from East Aurora High School in Aurora for "Refugio Martinez: Taking a Stand in the Packinghouse Industry." The students' teacher is Cathy Bednar.

· Omar Mesina from Orozco Academy won the Jamestown Award for his Junior Individual Documentary "CORE." Omar receives an expenses-paid trip to the 400th anniversary celebration in Jamestown, Virginia.

· Finally, Brian Lis, Adrian Mikocewicz, Chris Ciszynski, and Jonathan Taub won the History Channel's Outstanding Senior Entry Tied to a Historic Site for their Senior Group Documentary "Maxwell Street Market: Taking a Stand for Preservation." The students attend Lincoln Park High School. The prize carries with it a $5,000 cash award.

A final congratulations to all of the students who represented Illinois this week. We are proud of you! See you in 2007!

Now THAT'S team spirit!

ILLINOIS STUDENTS & THEIR FAN CLUBS:A REMARKABLE TEAMI'd like to add my congratulations to Lisa's to all the students who competed today and to our fantastic finalists. We cannot possibly express how proud we are of all of you. If I've ever provided feedback on your project during a coaching session, you know that I am a pretty demanding critic. I ask for your best because I see your potential. With those high expectations, you know that I am not one to give out empty praise.

But I feel compelled to tell each of you how impressed I am with Illinois' 2006 "Dream Team" of students and your extended fan clubs.Lisa and I have spent much of the past two days visiting documentaries and performances in the preliminary rounds. I have only one word for this year's participants: "Wow!" Many of the projects we saw a few weeks ago at state or the NHD Prep meeting are barely recognizable now because you have invested so much energy into your revisions. Unlike students in many other states who got out of school several weeks ago, most of you have had to make these revisions while juggling major end-of-year school projects, advanced placement or honors exams, graduations, and extracurricular activities. That hard work paid off. Whether you made finals or not, those revisions made your projects truly outstanding in many, many ways.

I've also been extraordinarily impressed by the teamwork, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and esprit de corps I've witnessed the past three days. I've been coming to NHD "since God was a baby" (as my father would say) and I've been fortunate to travel with many amazing groups of kids and their fan clubs, but I have to admit that the tremendous spirit and attitudes of the Illinois delegation over the past few days have been unparalleled. There is a saying that "we are much more together than the sum of the individual parts," and that has been the spirit of this week. Participants, teachers, and family members have all been cheering for each other – not out of a sense of competition, but in celebration of the work that has been done. You've also been looking around and drinking in the NHD experience deeply – whether that be meeting students from other states or seeking opportunities to learn from other students and their projects. Hopefully that curiosity and commitment to making the most of your NHD experience is giving you a memorable trip.This afternoon, 19 people showed up to watch Shantel Jarmon's "Reflections in a Black Mirror" in the preliminary round…only a few of those audience members were from Shantel's family. Everyone else – guests from 4 very different schools from across the city and suburbs – only met Shantel a few days ago, and yet an outside observer might have thought that you were all part of an extended family by watching your interactions. You cheered each other on as a team. It was a very moving and inspiring sight. I'm sure that even more showed up to cheer on tonight's finalists.

Finally, a note to the parents and teachers who have been supporting your students throughout this journey called History Fair. We know how long and tough the road to NHD can sometimes be. Thank you for being excellent models and supporters for your children and "adopting" other Illinois NHD participants and cheering for them just as hard as you cheer for your own children. You reflect the best of our state and clearly understand that the NHD experience is about so much more than winning a medal. Illinois' 2007 NHD delegation better watch out – they have some pretty big shoes to fill! (Hopefully we'll see some of you again next year!)

Daily Tidbits...Tuesday

Congratulations to ALL our Senior Division NHD-ers who made their fellow students, parents, teachers, and state PROUD. All your efforts came to beautiful fruition today.

Today's Daily Tidbit will now turn to the senior division projects that have advanced to the FINALS and give you info about the ICE CREAM SOCIAL & POSTER PARTY in our dorm. Then this Blogette will need to sign off because she needs to judge early morning: stayed tuned for more photos and tidbits on Wednesday when there's a little more time to report. In the meantime, let the folks know what YOU've been doing, funny or interesting things

Let's hear it for our finalists, and if you are on campus tomorrow morning please consider supporting them:

Agnes, Callie, Mona
Carrying the Burden: The Clyde Kennard Story documentary
Stamp Student Union, Bannecker Room, 9:45 a.m.











Eliseo, Sarah, Aracelly, Aracelli, Felipe
"Refugio Martinez: Taking a Stand for Packinghouse Workers"
Stamp Student Union,
Hoff Theater, 12 noon











After a great day of site-seeing, resting, or attending the Finals, come join us at the traditional Make-Your-Own-Sundae Ice Cream Party and Poster Party which will begin at 9pm at the Illinois dorm--ELKTON. If you can stand a little more fun, come on!
For security reasons, we need you to RSVP in order to let you in (plus have enuf sweet stuff and art stuff). Please call Lisa 312-636-2031 or Crystal 312-339-0463 by 6pm.

The Daily Tidbits...Monday

Greetings Illinois NHD-ers and supporters. You can use the comment section here to post your remarks and photos for Monday's news (or, just add on to the main one).

First things first: cheers & congratulations to our Junior Division students who presented ably today and made their state PROUD!

We are pleased to announce that 3 Illinois projects have advanced to the FINALISTS ROUND that will take place on Tuesday evening. (We only have results for docs & perfs--we do not know what happened in papers and exhibits because that's not announced). So 3 loud Illinois cheers to:

Haley, Issac, Margaret, Abagael, Stevie
“Radium Girls” performance
Stamp Student Union, Hoff Theatre at 5:30 p.m.










Deen & Rachael
“Jewish Labor Committee” performance
Stamp Student Union, Hoff Theatre at 8:00 p.m.


Keli Walsh
“Standing Up for Chicago” documentary
Stamp Student Union, Brent Room at 8:15 p.m.


ILLINOIS FOLKS ON CAMPUS on Tuesday evening are encouraged to support our students by attending the presentations.



Here's some other scenes from today:

The Daily Tidbits....Saturday & Sunday

The First Injury Award to Elise Croteau-Chonka for a swollen lip caused by sub-par juggling....or maybe she was fielding for the Cubbies. Her friend Sandra Peters does not look all that worried though. Congratulations, Elise: you win the award for your good humor and because it was not all that serious an injury. Please note, NHD-ers: the injury category is now officially closed!






The First Request for MORE Buttons goes to Shantel Jarmon -- clocked in at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday. Congratulations, Shantel! Stay tuned: how many state buttons will Shantel collect this week? Is anyone in the Illinois-NHD delegation going to collect them all?











Hey--look at who is a finalist for the Richard Farrell Teaching Award! It's Barry Bradford, History Fair sponsor at Stevenson High School. Congratulations, Barry, you have certainly earned this recognition for the ways in which you have enriched your students' lives by helping them to discover why history matters. Those whose lives have been touched by you and your students' research, political, and moral journeys applaud your nomination as Teacher of the Year.

Just in time for NHD!

Our button design (above) is by Agnes Mazur of Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. A young woman of many talents--she'll also present the documentary made by her, Callie McCune, and Mona Ghadri, "Carrying the Burden: The Story of Clyde Kennard." Thanks Agnes!

Heads-up Illinois NHD delegation:

We encourage students to introduce themselves to each other via "Comments." Consider telling us about your project and something that excited you or that you found really interesting along the course of your work. What are you most excited about doing at NHD? Do you have special plans about what you want to see & do?

Here's a reminder about our activities:

Sunday: June 11
Pick up buttons from Lisa & Crystal. One of us will be planted near registration hall.
Pizza & Frisbee party at 7:30, Hornbake Plaza. Reservations needed! T-shirts, buttons, frisbees, and a PASTPORT will be distributed. (More about the "Pastport" below.)

Monday: June 12
Good luck to all Junior Division students presenting!

• Around campus? Want to cool out for a bit before or after presentations? Bring along $5 and stop by the the Creamery for that cold, sweet stuff. Noon til 1pm.
• If you are on campus, considering giving some moral support to another Illinois student by attending their presentation.
• Announcement for the finals appear at the Stamp Union around 7pm. Good luck--remember, we are proud of your achievements no matter what
• The Student Dance follows--it's a great way to meet students from around the U.S. or just have fun with your friends.

Tuesday: June 13

Good luck to all Senior Division students presenting... and junior finalists.

• Around campus? Want to cool out for a bit before or after presentations? Bring along $5 and stop by the the Creamery for that cold, sweet stuff. Noon til 1pm.
• If you are on campus, considering giving some moral support to another Illinois student by attending their presentation.
• Announcement for the finals appear at the Stamp Union around 7pm. Good luck--remember, we are proud of your achievements no matter what.
• Good luck Junior Division finalists!

Wednesday: June 14

• Senior Division finals!
• Make-Your-Own-Sundae and Poster for Awards Ceremony Party and the dorm, beginning 9:00 p.m. (look for posting of History Fair dorm). FREE! ALL Illinois delegation students and supporters--no matter where you stay--are welcome to join us. Good to know if you are coming so we have enuf goodies!!