Three Decorah High School students selected to compete at the National History Day

(Left to right): Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Lydia Hayes, Clara Kittleson, Aidan Spencer, Iowa Department of Education Director Dr. Jason Glass and Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie.

Three Decorah high school students have qualified for theNational History Day national competition.

Aidan Spencer, Clara Kittleson and Lydia Hayes have been chosen because they created a documentary chronicling the removal of the social dancing ban at Luther College during the 1960s.

The girls three qualified will travel to College Park, Maryland, in June to compete against group documentaries from across the nation.  

Aidan says the group is still looking for individuals who remember the social dancing reform at Luther.  Anyone who would like to help should email janelle.keune@decorah.k12.ia.us.  

Aidan is the daughter of Randi Berg and Matt Spencer, Clara is the daughter of Dale and Frances Kittleson, and Lydia is the daughter of Tim Hayes and Kristen Albertson.

The three say they were especially helped by Luther College archivist Rachel Vagts and by Decorah teacher Janelle Keune.