"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:
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."
[to top of second column] |
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] |