James Clemens students awarded at Alabama History Day

MADISON – Four students from James Clemens High School excelled as champions at Alabama History Day in Montgomery.

Christian Arnsparger, Elijah Conway and Shalini Pandey won first place for their submission in the senior documentary category. These students focused a documentary on the conflict of global warming.

This trio interviewed the advanced-placement environmental teacher at James Clemens, along with a political science professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, to show the divide between politics and science.

Hannah Einhorn earned second place for her entry in individual exhibits. Einhorn researched a unique individual named Charles Bliss and the controversy surrounding his development of a universal language.

James Clemens students Louisa Brown and Rachel Howell also competed by entering the group exhibit category with their research about the conflict surrounding the Great Schism.

These students are members of James Clemens’ Rho Kappa chapter of the National History Honor Society. Melissa Lee sponsors this organization.

“Alabama History Day was open admission to all middle school and high school students in the state. Roughly 100 students competed that day,” Lee said. “Students who place first and second will then be entered into National History Day competition.”

National History Day, a non-profit organization, offers academic programs that engage more than 500,000 middle and high school students yearly. The organization was founded in 1974.

Students compete in their state to earn a spot in the national completion. The competitors work for a year on their academic project focused on historical research, interpretation and creative expression.

Students can submit essays, films, websites, plays or unique displays based on the yearly topic. The 2018 topic was “Controversy and Compromise in History.”

Officials invited Christian Arnsparger, Elijah Conway, Hannah Einhorn and Shalini Pandey to attend National History Day competition in Washington D.C. during June.

For more information about Alabama History Day, email alhistoryday@aum.edu or visit nhd.org/affiliate/Alabama.