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HISTORY FAIR
Each year, the Polk County History Fair is held in Bartow in March. Each participant enters a project in the Historical Paper, Documentary, Exhibit, or the Performance category. The first through fourth place winners are chosen, and the top 2 entries in each category advance to the State competition.
The State History Fair is held in Tallahassee in May of each year. This competition also places the first through fourth place winners in each category. One entry from each county is also chosen as the "Outstanding in County" entry. The top 2 winners from each category then advance to the National contest.
The National History Day contest is held at the University of Maryland in College Park in June of each year. The National competition is a 5 day event, culminating in the awards ceremony on the last day of the event. As in the State and County competitions, the first through fourth place winners are chosen by a panel of three judges. There is an "Outstanding in State" award given for one senior and one junior entry from each state, and a few special awards are also given for certain categories of entries.
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HISTORY FAIR 2005
My History Fair adventures began in 2005. I didn't know much about the History Fair at that time, and really only turned my project in so that I could get a good grade in class, as the project was a required part of my grade. I was very surprised when my entry was chosen to compete in the Polk County History Fair.
My entry was placed first at the County contest that first year. I was shocked, but pleased. I advanced to the State contest in Tallahassee!
I learned so much at the State contest during my first year of competition. I enjoyed the whole experience so much, that I decided I would try to build a project that could get to State again the following year!
HISTORY FAIR 2006
History Fair 2006 was exciting. My project was again a required part of my grade, but this year I wanted to win. I wanted that History Fair experience, and I found that I even enjoyed learning about the events in our history that I was being exposed to!
I was fortunate in 2006 to have my project chosen to compete in the County contest. I was excited to compete in the Polk County History Fair again and thrilled when I placed first in my division and again made it to the State competition!
There were eight projects chosen in my category (Junior Individual Documentary) at the State competition in 2006 to advance to the run-off competition. I was thrilled to make the run-offs at the State in 2006! By advancing to the run-offs, I had placed in the top 8 in the State! I was so blessed to have made it that far!
As we sat watching the award ceremony, my name was called to receive the Outstanding in County award for Polk County. That was an exciting time for me! The hard work I had put into my project had paid off! I was ecstatic!
I learned more about what it takes to make a good presentation during the 2006 experience. My top 8 placement and Outstanding in County award made me even more focused on participating in the History Fair again the following year!
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POLK COUNTY HISTORY FAIR 2007
History Fair 2007 almost didn't happen for me. I had gotten so involved in showing my dog Trooper by then, that I wasn't sure I would have the time and energy to prepare a quality History Fair project, as well as give my dog quality training time.
The History project was not a required part of my school curriculum this year, although I was encouraged to prepare a History project by my teacher and other school officials, as well as my brother.
My family is an integral part of my History Fair experience. They have attended every competition with me and have been so very supportive. I just wouldn't have been able to achieve my History Fair successes without the love and support of my whole family. They have always been behind me 100%, and never hesitate to take me where I need to go in order to research my topics. This year my grandfather even bought a new laptop because I was unable to find any suitable equipment with which to present my project in the competitions. My family is my rock and I couldn't even attempt these competitions without their love and support.
Receiving the 1st place award in my division at County!
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POLK COUNTY HISTORY FAIR 2007
Waiting at the Polk County Competition March 2007.
Bartow, Florida
The theme for year 2007 was Triumph and Tragedy. Every participant must choose a topic related to that theme and be able to relate their topic and tie it in to the theme. That is imperative. I had chosen a topic for my 2007 project on the way home from the 2006 State competition, so I already knew what I would build my presentation on...I just needed to make the commitment to move forward with the idea. After much thought, I decided to go ahead with the 2007 project and used the Apollo 13 accident as my topic.
This year I would compete in the Senior Individual Documentary category for the first time. I was anxious about moving up to the Senior division from the Junior division, but decided I would just do my best and let the chips fall where they may. The County competition went well for me this year, and I placed first in the County in the Senior Individual Documentary category. I was so fortunate and blessed to advance to the State competition again! |
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FLORIDA HISTORY FAIR 2007
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
The 2007 State competition was amazing. After each competitor presented their project, the top eight finishers were announced for a run off competition. My family and I sat anxiously waiting the run off results to be posted and were thrilled when we saw them! I had again placed in the run offs! That meant I had at least finished in the top eight in the State!
I was nervous but excited to have a chance to advance to the National competition. When I went in to give my run-off presentation, it seemed like everything wasn't going well. The media I took with me to play my presentation wouldn't play on the set up in the run-off room. Everyone was using the provided equipment and showing their project on a huge wall screen. But alas, I could not do that. My media would not play on their equipment, so I went and got my laptop and started my presentation on a laptop with a 15 inch screen on a desk in the front of the room.
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My Brother Ryan and I at the
Awards Ceremony in Tallahassee. |
I finally got my presentation started, and the judges asked me to go turn the lights off. On the way to turn off the lights, I stumbled and lost my shoe. If it wasn't so humiliating and nerve-wracking, it would have been funny, but nothing was funny right then. I retrieved my shoe and put it back on and proceeded to the wall to turn off the lights. I raked my hand down the switches to turn off the lights and half came on and half went off. Oh boy. Things were not going well. It took me a minute to figure out which switches needed to be in the "up" position, and which one's needed to be in the "down" position for the lights to remain off.
The rest of my presentation went without incident. The judges seemed to like my presentation, and I hoped they could see the smaller screen from their seats. I was praying for the best! |
My family and I were excited at the award ceremony the next morning. We were hoping I could advance to Nationals, but most of all we were having a great time, and so thrilled to have made it to the finals at the State competition.
When they called my name for the 2nd place winner in my division at the award ceremony, I was shocked and awed! My brother went nuts! He jumped up and screamed and was so excited for me! I smile every time I think about it. Just seeing him so excited made it so much more exciting for me!
My family and I were simply ecstatic! We were headed to NATIONALS! WOOHOO!
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Second place in the State in my Division!
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NATIONAL HISTORY DAY 2007
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND
My National History Day experience was fantastic. My family and I drove to Maryland and stayed at a hotel just a couple of miles from the University of Maryland.
We attended the Opening Ceremonies of the History Fair the next evening on the UM grounds. Participants from each state were given buttons to trade, and we started trading at the close of Opening Ceremonies. I had dozens of Florida buttons with me, and traded them to participants from other states in exchange for a button from the state they were representing. We had such a great time meeting and exchanging buttons! It is certainly one of the highlights of the trip for me, and I have a lanyard full of buttons as a keepsake!
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY
ARLINIGTON, VIRGINIA
I gave my presentation on Tuesday of that week before three judges. I was very prepared for the interview, but I was VERY nervous. However, once I got into the room and started my documentary, I could feel the nervousness melting away. It hit me that THIS was what I had worked for, and I wanted to enjoy every minute of it! I watched the documentary with the judges, and talked with them when the documentary ended. They asked a few questions about my topic entitled Failure is Not an Option: The Tragic Explosion and Triumphant Return of Apollo 13. I gave it my all, and was pleased with my performance.
We woke up to cool weather on the morning of the Awards Ceremony. We were heading home when we left the college. I was amazed and astounded to win the award for "Outstanding in State" at the National competition. What a huge honor that was for me! I was so blessed to win this award and so grateful to everyone that made it possible for me to get that far! My NHD experience was a dream.
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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND
I had never been to Washington, DC before this experience, and was excited to go into the District to see some of the places I'd only heard or read about. What an amazing field trip that was! We discovered the metro, and used that as our transportation into DC. We visited the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, Union Station, the WW2 Memorial, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, the Botanical Gardens, took a prearranged staff-led tour of the Capitol Building (which was AMAZING), and stood outside the gates of the WHITE HOUSE! It was an absolutely AWESOME adventure!
While we were in the Smithsonian Museum, I got an idea for NEXT YEAR'S History Fair Project! Oh My Gosh! I saw a primary source first hand in person and took lots of pictures!
2007 NATIONAL HISTORY DAY AWARD CEREMONY
"OUTSTANDING IN STATE - SENIOR DIVISION!"
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND
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Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
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2007 NHD Topic |
The White House
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We had such a great week at the National Competition...it was absolutely the experience of a lifetime! Many people were responsible for helping me get to Nationals in Maryland. Without my supporters, this trip wouldn't have been possible for me. In addition to my family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following for their support:
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each one of you. You contributed to my success in so many different ways! It was your kindness and compassion that allowed me to have such a wonderful experience competing in the National History Day competition. I will be forever grateful to each of you will and will always be thankful for your support!
~ THANK YOU! ~
Kaylie
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