Polk County Public Schools
Polk won its first-ever category awards in the annual National History Day event. The 2010 event was held over the summer at the University of Maryland in College Park.
Summerlin Academy students Kylie Chiavuzzi, Robert Lockard, John Parks and Jorge Torre won third place in the high school Web site category for their project titled, “Electrifying America: Rural Electrification Act – Impact and Change.” The site examined the historic circumstances that led to the passage of the Rural Electrification Act during the Great Depression and how the act proposed to alleviate darkness in rural America. Their advisor in the project was teacher Steven Hall.
Bartow International Baccalaureate students Marisa Facey and Bianca Mulaney took 13th place in the high school Web site category for their project titled, “The Power of the Press,” about Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press invention. Their advisor was Theodore Wright.
A third group of students qualified and participated in National History Day with their project but were not selected for an award.
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy students Sal Campisi and Julia Schindler competed in the middle school Web site category with their project, “A Car for Every American – Henry Ford’s Innovative Strategies.” Their project explored how Ford made affordable automobiles, convinced people they needed vehicles and how he was instrumental in developing the crediting and dealership systems that are still used today in the automotive industry. Their advisors were Leon Williams and Marsha Yoder.
The Summerlin, Bartow IB and Lawton Chiles groups all qualified for the National History Day event by winning awards at the 2010 state History Fair held in Tallahassee in May.
