St. Benedict's School students qualify for Nation History Day national championships

Photo: (l-r) Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie, Abigail Toussaint, Emily Franzen and Governor Terry Branstad at the National History Day in Iowa Junior Division state contest Monday at the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines

Two 8th grade students at St. Benedict's School in Decorah have qualified for the National History Day national competition June 14th through the 19th at the University of Maryland.

Abigail Toussaint and Emily Franzen were selected as Iowa's representatives in the "Group Website" category.  Their website covered the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that struck down the "Separate but Equal" policy that kept schools segregated.

The two were among a group of St. Benedict's students who did well Monday at the Junior Competition for 6th through 8th graders of Iowa's National History Day competition.  St. Ben's 8th grader Kaitlyn Rooney was named a national competition alternate in the "Individual Performance" category for her topic "Engel v Vitale: The Right to Freedom of Religion in School."  Fellow 8th grader Brynne Valkosky was a state finalist in the "Individual Website" category for her website titled "The CFSAN: Maintaining the Rights and Responsibilities of Consumer Safety."  She also won "Outstanding Entry in the HIstory of US Government."  And St. Ben's 6th grader Katie Storlie was a State Finalist in "Individual Performance" for her topic titled "Irena Sendler: The Responsibility to Make a Difference."