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I hope we’re all school spirited when it comes to our local
high school, even if we don’t have any children in attendance. I know I am.

I remember strolling the boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J. one
balmy September weekend and seeing a parade of high school bands. And guess who
was leading the parade? Unionville-Chadds Ford High School. Alright!

I didn’t know the band director or anyone in the high
school, but I snapped a photo and applauded as they marched by. It was a great
feeling and I was proud —a bit of home at the shore so to speak.

Last Saturday I spent a fabulous day at Immaculata
University near Malvern. As a former teacher and history museum president, I
participate on one of the judging teams for the Southeastern Pennsylvania
National History Day Regionals – judging winning entries from the competitions
at area school districts.

National History Day engages students in historic, cultural
and social experiences of the past. Each year, more than half a million
students, encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide, participate in the
NHD contest. In addition, students are challenged to use primary sources, oral
history interviews, original letters and documents as well as museum visits,
rather than Web sites as sources for research.

Students in middle school through high school can explore
each year’s theme in several divisions: Three dimensional museum exhibits,
papers, dramatic performances (perhaps a first person soliloquy as an historic
character) documentaries or website design. Results are incredibly
sophisticated. This year’s theme was “Innovation in History”.

Some divisions break down into individual and group
projects. Judging is strict and follows national guidelines - standards are
high.

Last year after viewing a senior documentary based on
interviews and historic photos of a Philadelphia man who fought in WWII, I was
wiping tears from my eyes.

Regional winners go on to the state competition at
Millersville University in May, with state winners going on to nationals at the
University of Maryland just outside of Washington, DC in June.

Jeffrey G. Hawks, Education Director at the Army Heritage
Center Foundation in Carlisle, and coordinator for the State
Competition, told me 7,000 students in 11 regions are competing to go to state.

And so Saturday afternoon I sat in Immaculata’s massive
auditorium in Alumnae Hall for the awards ceremonies. The air was electrified with
excitement and expectation.

Hawks told those assembled, that National History Day was an
example of teachers going the extra mile for their students. 

As the regional winners in each division and their school
districts were announced, squeals, shouts and rounds of applause went up from
the students, teachers and parents.

Fuget Middle School was cleaning up at the junior level as
was Conestoga in the senior division, with Octorara, Penncrest, Marple Newtown
and St. Aloysius in Bryn Mawr coming on strong.    

But…uh… something was missing, wouldn’t you say so?

I asked Regional Coordinator, Carol Grigson, why the
Unionville-Chadds Ford district didn’t participate. “We’ve never been able to
get an interested teacher there,” she said. “All I need is the interest of one
teacher. It’s a person-by-person building process.”

So come on Unionville –Chadds Ford. We’re number one. This is
a totally awesome competition and you would really give Conestoga a run for
their money. I know you would.

As State Coordinator Hawks said, “We’re throwing the
gauntlet down to Unionville-Chadds Ford”

For more information go to www.nationalhistoryday.org.