DES MOINES – Students from Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids and Nashua-Plainfield schools took top honors at the National History Day Contest last week at the University of Maryland.
Hadley Appel, Kailin Stiles-Pena and Addison Woelfel of Bettendorf Middle School; Raegan Reicks of Harding Middle School in Cedar Rapids; and Caleb Sinnwell of Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School medaled in their respective categories.
Sixteen more Iowa students received special recognition during this year’s program, which is coordinated in Iowa by the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
In all, more than half a million middle and high school students around the world researched, developed and presented papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites and performances about historical topics related to an annual theme. This year’s theme was “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.”
“Students who participate in the National History Day program not only have opportunities to conduct research at advanced levels and learn about history, they develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will serve them all their lives,” State Historical Society of Iowa Administrator Susan Kloewer said. “Congratulations to all our students for their achievements, and thank you to their teachers and families for their support.”
“Iowans can be very proud of this group of students and the work they put into their projects and presentations,” National History Day in Iowa Coordinator Hanna Howard said. “They competed against thousands of other students from around the world and represented Iowa very well.”
Overall, Iowa sent 62 students from 18 different schools to the national contest this year. The 62 students emerged from a total of 498 competitors in the National History Day in Iowa state contest held earlier this year at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
The list of students and educators who earned top honors and special awards at the national contest follows:
2023 National Medalists
Bettendorf Middle School
2nd Place in Junior Group Exhibit
Students: Hadley Appel, Kailin Stiles-Pena and Addison Woelfel
Teacher: Emily Pendleton
Title: The Apgar Score: Advancing the Frontier of Neonatal Medicine
Harding Middle School, Cedar Rapids
3rd Place in Junior Individual Performance
Student: Raegan Reicks
Teacher: Michele Wilson
Title: Striding Towards Justice: How the Nuremberg Trials Were a Frontier in International Law
Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
3rd Place in Senior Individual Website
Students: Caleb Sinnwell
Teacher: Suzan Turner
Title: With the Flip of a Switch on the Rural Frontier: REA Lights the Way
2023 National Finalists
Akron-Westfield Middle/High School
Junior Group Performance (5th Place)
Students: Faith Martinsen, Kaylie Meinen, Kaylee Miller, Carter Moffatt and Khallie Willms
Teacher: Val Philips
Title: Annie Wittenmyer: Leading a Frontier in Hospital Safety Conditions
Bettendorf Middle School
Junior Group Exhibit (8th Place)
Students: Kaylie Husser and Gabrielle Wischmann
Teacher: Emily Pendleton
Title: Margaret Sanger’s Planned Parenthood: A Frontier in Women’s Healthcare
Marshalltown High School
Senior Individual Performance (5th Place)
Student: Landon Stanley
Teacher: Susan Fritzell
Title: Pay It No Mind
Marshalltown High School
Senior Group Performance (7th Place)
Students: Isaac Benscoter and Jason Strand
Teacher: Susan Fritzell
Title: The Wright Brothers: Paving the Runway for Modern-Day Aeronautics by Flying Through the Frontier of Air Travel
Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
Senior Group Website (5th Place)
Students: Grace Dietz and Alison Mehmen
Teacher: Suzy Turner
Title: Females in FFA: Forging New Frontiers in Farming and Beyond
Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
Senior Group Website (9th Place)
Students: Ava Kirk and Elexa O’Neill
Teacher: Suzy Turner
Title: Leaving the Past Behind: The Orphan Train Forges New Frontiers for Child Welfare
St. Benedict’s Catholic School, Decorah
Junior Group Documentary (7th Place)
Students: Kalin Harman and Rex LaFrentz
Teacher: Patty Lien
Title: Pasteurization: Reshaping the Dairy Industry
2023 Special Award Winners
History of Agriculture and Rural Life Award
Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
Senior Group Website
Students: Grace Dietz and Alison Mehmen
Teacher: Suzy Turner
Title: Females in FFA: Forging New Frontiers in Farming and Beyond
2023 Outstanding Entries
Akron-Westfield Middle/High School
Junior Group Performance
Students: Faith Martinsen, Kaylie Meinen, Kaylee Miller, Carter Moffatt and Khallie Willms
Teacher: Val Philips
Title: Annie Wittenmyer: Leading a Frontier in Hospital Safety Conditions
Marshalltown High School
Senior Individual Performance
Student: Landon Stanley
Teacher: Susan Fritzell
Title: Pay It No Mind
2023 Project Showcase Selections
Smithsonian National Museum of American History Exhibit Showcase
Bettendorf Middle School
Junior Group Exhibit
Students: Hadley Appel, Kailin Stiles-Pena and Addison Woelfel
Teacher: Emily Pendleton
Title: The Apgar Score: Advancing the Frontier of Neonatal Medicine
The National History Day in Iowa program has been coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, since 1994 and is sponsored by the State Historical Society, Inc., National Endowment for the Humanities and Bravo Greater Des Moines.
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its divisions – the State Historical Society of Iowa, including the State Historic Preservation Office; the Iowa Arts Council; the Iowa Humanities Council; and Produce Iowa-State Office of Film & Media – empower Iowans to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting to the people, places and points of pride that define our state.