Gov. Blagojevich announces 2006 Student Historians of the Year     

16 junior and senior high school students who had the best essays published in a statewide history magazine

[APRIL 24, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- Last week Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced the 2006 Student Historians of the Year. The 16 student historians are being recognized for their outstanding essays published in Illinois History magazine during the past year on topics ranging from "John Mason Peck, Zealot of Education" to "Michael Crichton's Mark on the Science Fiction World" to "Sara Lee Bakery Group."

"These bright and talented students dug into Illinois history and produced thoughtful and insightful essays," Blagojevich said. "Hopefully their work will give other Illinois students a better appreciation of our state's rich heritage."

The winning students wrote essays that appeared in the January, February and April 2006 editions of Illinois History.

Founded in 1947, the publication is the nation's oldest history magazine written by and for junior and senior high school students. Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Education Services publishes the student-written magazine, as well as Illinois History Teacher, which contains teaching materials. For more information, visit www.illinois-history.gov and click on "Education Services."

Four of the 16 students were singled out for special recognition as having the best-written and best-researched essays. These four winners, who each receive $50 in prize money, are:

• Senior Historical Research Award
  Katie Fearer
  Oregon High School, Oregon
  Teacher: Sara Werckle
  "Ray Bradbury," February 2006 issue of Illinois History
  Katie Fearer's command of resources about Ray Bradbury is impressive; not only Bradbury's famous "Fahrenheit 451," but also critiques of his work were used.

• Senior Historical Writing Award
  Bryce Parsons-Twesten
  Belleville West High School, Belleville
  Teacher: Melissa Schmitt
  "John Mason Peck, Zealot of Education," January 2006
  Bryce Parsons-Twesten assumed the challenge of writing about a too-little-known figure in our state's history, John Mason Peck. The student succeeded in writing an interesting and informative piece about this educator and writer.

• Junior Historical Research Award
  Kelly Mover
  University Laboratory High School, Urbana
  Teacher: Rosemary Laughlin
  "Michael Crichton's Mark on the Science Fiction World," February 2006
  Kelly Mover used several types of sources, the most impressive being two works by the subject of her essay, to write a well-informed article about the Chicago-born novelist, Michael Crichton.

• Junior Historical Writing Award
  Andrea D. Keyes
  Washington Gifted School, Peoria
  Teachers: Janelle Dies and Mindy Juriga
  "Gwendolyn Brooks: Impacting Illinois One Reader at a Time," February 2006
  Andrea Keyes wrote not only a well-informed but engaging discussion of Gwendolyn Brooks' poetry in the context of her life. Keyes declares boldly at her essay's beginning, "Writing style and inspirations from the past made a good poet a great one."

Other Student Historians of the Year
(All receive certificates)

• Victoria Francis
  Good Shepherd Lutheran School, Collinsville
  Teacher: Michael Voss
  "Olin Brass: A Blast from the Past," April 2006

• Brendan Kampwerth
  All Saints Academy, Breese
  Teacher: Stephanie Garcia
  "The Kampwerth Farm," April 2006

• Abby Klaus
  Washington Gifted School, Peoria
  Teachers: Janelle Dies and Mindy Juriga
  "Penicillin: ‘The Miracle Drug,'" January 2006

• Maritza Mestre
  University Laboratory High School, Urbana
  Teacher: Stephen E. Rayburn
  "Sara Lee Bakery Group," April 2006

• Gabe Smith
  University Laboratory High School, Urbana
  Teacher: Rosemary Laughlin
  "Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451,'" February 2006

• Andrew Weatherhead
  University Laboratory High School, Urbana
  Teacher: Adele Suslick
  "From the Flames to the Phoenix: The Physics Department at the University of Chicago," January 2006

• Robert J. Diehl
  University Laboratory High School, Urbana
  Teacher: Adele Suslick
  "Ad Majorem Ad Gloriam: The Founding of Loyola University of Chicago," January 2006

• Katie Ehrenwald
  Danville High School, Danville
  Teacher: Harith Tamimie
  "A Little Stadium Can Affect a Community," April 2006

• Abeer Khurram
  Carbondale Community High School, Carbondale
  Teacher: Rivanna Abel
  "Jane Addams: Author and Activist," February 2006

• Jackie Owensby
  Oregon High School, Oregon
  Teacher: Sara Werckle
  "Illinois Wesleyan University," January 2006

• Allison Sargent
  Rushville-Industry High School, Rushville
  Teacher: Vicki Harrison
  "Irene Hunt," January 2006

• Cory Turinette
  St. Bede Academy, Peru
  Teacher: Michael Balestri
  "Edgar Lee Masters," February 2006

The Illinois History Preservation Agency's annual Illinois History Expo, scheduled for May 3 in Springfield, will showcase the papers, projects, exhibits and performances of nearly 1,400 of the top junior and senior high school history students in the state.

[News release from the governor's office]