Historical Society of Michigan 5815 Executive Dr. Lansing, MI 48911 Contact: Nancy Feldbush (517) 324-1828 feldbush@hsmichigan.org	For Immediate Release
2019 MICHIGAN HISTORY DAY^® STATE CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED
BAY CITY, Mich.—A total of 148 students received top honors at the State Finals competition of Michigan History Day^® on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Bay City Central High School in Bay City, Michigan. Nearly 515 Michigan elementary, middle and high school students took part in this year’s Michigan History Day State Finals competition, which is an educational program of the Historical Society of Michigan. The finalists in the junior and senior divisions will now move on to the National History Day competition this June in College Park, Maryland. The state champions for Michigan History Day 2019 include students from Ada, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Brimley, Byron Center, DeTour, Detroit, Fraser, Grand Rapids, Houghton, Howell, Kalamazoo, Kentwood, Lake Linden, Marshall, Montague, Newberry, Saginaw, Sault Ste. Marie, South Haven, St. Joseph, Traverse City, Westland and Whitehall. Click here to download a PDF with the names of the winners, what school they are from and the awards they won. “It is always inspiring to see the students so engaged with history and the diverse topics that they choose,” said Michigan History Day state coordinator Amy Bradfield. “Many students also connected this year’s theme—Triumph & Tragedy in History—to Michigan-related subjects.” In addition, this year’s Michigan History Day State Finals witnessed several “firsts.” · A record-setting 175 volunteers registered to be judges for the 2019 State Finals. Judges evaluate the participants’ entries and provide constructive feedback. Two-thirds of those who signed up as judges at this year’s competition have served for two or more years. · Michigan History Day 2019 welcomed 19 colleges and universities as sponsors of the competition. Along with their support, the institutions set up informational booths, where students, parents, family members and teachers could visit with the representatives. · The graphic for 2019’s T-Shirts was designed by student Harini Dev, from Troy, who won Michigan History Day’s first-ever T-Shirt Design Contest. Michigan History Day (National History Day in Michigan) offers a fascinating opportunity to move beyond routine learning. Based on an annual theme, students choose to explore and research a local, national or international historical topic. Students then present their work in one of five categories: performances, exhibits, papers, websites and documentaries. Lead sponsors of Michigan History Day 2019 are The Meijer Foundation, Frederick S. Upton Foundation and Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation. The event was hosted by Bay City Public Schools. The Historical Society of Michigan is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828 by territorial governor Lewis Cass and explorer Henry Schoolcraft. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigan’s rich history. #  #  # Editor’s Note: For high-resolution photos of the individual winners, please contact the Historical Society of Michigan at hsm@hsmichigan.org. This e-mail is sent to our members and friends to keep you updated on historical activities and opportunities to learn more about our state’s history. To opt-out, please respond to this e-mail with “remove” in the subject line. If you received this e-mail as part of your participation in the Michlib-l mailing list (listserv), please follow their removal process.