Twenty-seven elementary, middle school, and high school students were among the 472 contestants who gathered at the Heinz History Center for this event, recognized as America's largest regional competition within the History Day program. NHD-Pitt is directed by the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania and underwritten by Columbia Gas.
History Day is an opportunity for students to present historical papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, and original websites pertaining to an annual theme. Entries this year focused on the theme of "Conflict and Compromise in History." Sixteen Peters Township students returned from NHD-Pitt with medals. The next level of competition is slated for May 13-14 at Millersville University in Lancaster County. Vaughn Dailey is the National History Day Adviser for grades 6-12.
First place winners in the 2008 Regional Competition were Hannah Yingling and Derek Brouwer, Grade 12 (group exhibit); and Andrew Grosso, Adam Parker, and Shane Taylor, Grade 6 (group exhibit).
Second place awards went to Matt Dixon, Grade 8 (Web site design); Christopher Malencia, Matthew Malencia, and R.J. McGinnis, Grade 8 (group exhibit); and Joshua Bowman and Jacob Wilhelm, Grade 7 (group documentary).
Third place awards were given to Gretchen Brandstetter, Grade 8 (individual exhibit); and Connor Daley, Joshua Helzlsouer, and Justin Magnotti, Grade 7 (group performance).
A fourth place award was given to Maggie Rickman, Grade 7 (individual exhibit).