Two Logan County elementary schools held history competitions early this spring and several students advanced to the Western Regional History Fair on Saturday, March 10, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield. A select few of those students will represent their schools and Logan County at the 25th Annual Illinois State History Fair on Thursday, May 3, at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center, Springfield.

Four New Holland-Middletown students exhibited history displays at the regional competition: Cody Davison - Historic Marbold Farmstead (near Greenview); Devon McGrew- Chief Black Hawk; Katlyn Helton and Kuhlan Merriman-History of Middletown Schools; Jack White-Wrigley Field. Excellent ratings were awarded to McGrew, Helton and Merriman, and White. Cody Davison (pictured above) received a superior rating and advanced to the state history fair.

Twenty-two sixth through eighth grade students from Zion Lutheran School, Lincoln, qualified for participation in the regional history fair on Saturday. Eight students received a superior rating and will advance to the state history fair: Lexie Groves, Danielle Burgrabe, Anna Sielaff, Isabelle Thompson, Katie Hunsley, Emily Messner, Kathryn Nobbe, and Gabi Cox.

Excellent ratings were awarded to Lizzie Ford, Rachel Lockenour, Cylie Rekart, Ben Steiner, Anna Walters, Claire Conrady, Brooklyn Hermes, Heather Heidbreder, Kalyn Roberts, Joel Robison, Hailie Williams, Emma Cooper, Tori Tripplett, and Braydon Simpson.

The history fair competitions begin with exhibits at individual schools. Topics are chosen by the student and they can present their research and findings in one of five formats: research paper; tri-fold (poster) exhibit; documentary (film); writing and performing a historic play; designing a website with historic content.

Most students choose the tri-fold exhibit with a written review of research and a bibliography. The displays include any combination of pictures, posters, newspaper clippings, handmade or purchased mementos and other creative items that reflect the subject.

There is no registration fee at any level of the competition. There are four regional competitions in the state of Illinois. In the last few weeks regional fairs were also held at Northern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University. All superior ratings advance to the state competition on May 3.

The history fair exhibitions are sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s Student Historian Program. Guidelines for the projects, judges’ instructions and related activity are distributed by the IHPA.