Six Decorah students qualify for National History Day competition

National Qualifiers (Front row): Katie Perez, Kaitlyn Rooney and Loden Henning. (Second Row): Kalle Solberg, Katelyn Yee and Autumn Delong (Top row): Miss Iowa 2011 Jessica Pray

Six middle school students from Decorah will join 57 other students from Iowa in competing at the National History Day competition June 10th through the 14th at the University of Maryland.

6th grader Kaitlyn Rooney from St. Benedict's qualified as an individual performer with her project titled "Tinker vs. Des Moines: A Revolution in Students' Rights".  Decorah Middle School 8th grader Autumn Delong qualified with her individual documentary, "Robert Ray: A Voice for Refugees".  The group documentary by Decorah Middle School students Loden Henning, Kalle Solberg, Katie Perez, and Katelyn Yee, "Elijah Parrish Lovejoy: America's Reaction to a Revolutionary Idea", also qualified for Nationals.  

The group of 63 Iowa students will compete against nearly 2,500 students from the United States, Europe and China. Nearly 10,000 Iowa students competed in the program this year, with winners at school and district competitions advancing to the state contests in Des Moines.

Several Decorah students received other honors and awards at the state contest in Des Moines.   DMS students Emma Sweet and Ashely Schwartzhoff were named finalists with their group exhibit, "McRevolution: Advertising to Children".  Brianna Doyle, Annika Krieg, Linnea Carlson, and Sofyia Andrusishin's group performance, " Ruby Bridges: Steps for Reformation", also was named as a finalist and received an award for Outstanding Entry in African American History.   
 
St. Benedict student Jenna Galligan was named a finalist with her individual website, "Electricity: A Revolution for Rural America".  Miles Wilke received the American Perspective Award for his paper titled "Preserving America's Natural Grandeur: Theodore Roosevelt and His Protection of the American Frontier".  Indigo Fish received a special award for Outstanding Use of Performance Elements with her individual performance, "Joan Baez, Human Being, Pacifist, Folk Singer and a Revolution in History".