Decorah Middle School Students Shine at State History Day; Lilly Sailor Advances to Nationals

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. DECORAH — Decorah Middle School students earned strong results at the state National History Day competition held April 27 in Ames, Iowa, with one student qualifying for the national competition at the University of Maryland this June. This year's National History Day theme was "Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History." Students competed in a variety of categories, presenting research projects developed throughout the school year. Eighth-grader Lilly Sailor qualified for the national competition with her individual documentary, Human Genome Project. Decorah Middle School state qualifiers and projects:Group Performances Lillian Brummel, Niva Anderson and Lilly Richmond — Nellie Bly Iris Wadsworth and Emily McFarlane — The Environmental Disasters of 1969 Individual Documentary Lilly Sailor — Human Genome Project (national qualifier) Group Documentaries Anya Volkman and Hattie Sauer — Revolution of Wounded Knee Elsa Propson and Avery Garcia-Prats — The Chicago Race Riots of 1919 Josh Pollard, James Zook and Logan Goedken — The Revolution of Hip-Hop Individual Exhibit Taylor Hammell — The First Surgical Anesthesia Group Exhibit Khloe Henning and Vienna Schissel — DNA and Crime Individual Papers Elliana Nyanjenga — Nikita Khrushchev's Efforts to Reform and De-Stalinize the Soviet Union Kellan McGee — Louis Braille Amelia Krueger — The Rise of Stop-Motion Animation and Claymation "I am extremely proud of the work our students put into their National History Day projects this year," said NHD sponsor Wes Knaack. "Through months of inquiry, research and creativity, they developed thoughtful projects that showcased not only their understanding of history, but also their hard work and commitment." The state competition showcases student research, historical analysis and presentation skills. Decorah Middle School students spent months preparing projects connected to this year's theme before advancing to the state contest. Stay connected and informed! Join the free newsletter for curated news, trending topics, and insider perspectives you won't find anywhere else.