Students from Thomas County Middle School have been working diligently throughout the school year to complete National History Day projects. The theme for this year was "Turning Points in History". “National History Day is a year-long academic program focused on historical research, interpretation and creative expression for 6th- to 12th-grade students. By participating in NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights, and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history,” explains the National History Day website (www.nhd.org).
Students compete in various categories including documentaries, exhibits, historical papers, performances, and websites. Students listed below who placed first, second, or third in the competition will move on to the state competition held at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
Harold Singletary Best in Show - Landon McDuffie
Harold Singletary taught social studies for many years and is a local legend at TCMS!
African-American History - Henry McInnis and Griffin Browning
Women’s History - Brennan West and Kassie White
1st Place - Exhibit - Landon McDuffie
Kenny Washington - Kenny Washington's breaking of the NFL color barrier in 1946 marked a crucial turning point in history, paving the way for racial integration in professional football and challenging discriminatory practices.
2nd Place - Exhibit - Holten Dennard
Interstates - The inception of the interstate highway system during the 1950s and 1960s marked a pivotal juncture in history, profoundly influencing societal dynamics by streamlining travel, fostering widespread economic growth, and fundamentally altering patterns of commerce and urban development.
3rd Place - Exhibit - Kara Colon
Jaws - Jaws, released in 1975, served as a cinematic turning point by not only revolutionizing the film industry but also significantly impacting public perception of sharks, contributing to widespread fear and misunderstanding of these creatures and influencing subsequent conservation efforts to dispel misconceptions and protect shark populations.
1st Place - Group Exhibit - Brennan West and Kassie White
Maybelline Mascara - Maybelline mascara significantly influenced the beauty landscape by democratizing cosmetic access, rendering makeup more universally attainable. Its introduction marked a cultural shift, broadening the scope of beauty standards and fostering a widespread embrace of cosmetics as a means of self-expression.
2nd Place - Group Exhibit - Henry McInnis and Griffin Browning
Jackie Robinson - Jackie Robinson was a turning point for baseball as his historic integration into Major League Baseball in 1947 not only broke the sport's color barrier but also catalyzed a transformative shift in societal attitudes. His exemplary talent and resilience not only paved the way for racial equality in sports but also contributed to the broader civil rights movement, making baseball a symbol of progress and inclusivity.
3rd Place - Group Exhibit - Charlotte Sowards and Emilie Hart
Holocaust - The Holocaust served as a harrowing turning point for human rights, galvanizing global awareness and prompting the establishment of international conventions and institutions to prevent such atrocities and safeguard fundamental human rights.
1st Place - Documentary - Kyndall Hughes
Oswald the Unlucky Rabbit - Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a character created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in the 1920s, marked a turning point in the history of animation. Oswald was the first character to be featured in a series of synchronized sound cartoons, contributing to the advancement of animation technology and storytelling techniques. However, Oswald's significance lies in the events that followed his creation. When Disney lost the rights to Oswald in a contractual dispute, it led to the creation of a new character—Mickey Mouse—in 1928. The success of Mickey Mouse became the foundation for The Walt Disney Company, shaping the future of animation and entertainment, making Oswald's departure a pivotal moment in the history of animated characters and the entertainment industry.
The following students received Honorable Mentions for their exhibits.
Group Exhibits -
Hollyn Darley and Lexi Kate Powers - Babe Ruth
Ellie Kate Youngblood and Sydney Butler - Gerda Weissman
Individual Exhibits -
Aaron Irvin - Apollo 13
Ben Bailey - Hershey
Claire Garbett - Tylenol
Graham Gaines - Cell phones
Julia James - Penicillin
Nathan Bruce - Cotton Gin
Pierson Whittington - Cuban Missile Crisis
Sam Stewart - Tommy John Surgery
Sophie Rehberg - Beatles
Pictured below is Harold Singletary presenting Landon McDuffie the Harold Singletary Best in Show Award.
Pictured below in the second image is Griffin Browning and Henry McInnis who received the African-American History Award.
Pictured below in the third image is Brennan West and Kassie White who received the Women’s History Award.
Pictured below in the fourth image are Individual Exhibit Winners Landon McDuffie, who placed first, Holton Dennard who placed second, and Kara Colon who received third.
Pictured below in the fifth image are Group Exhibit Winners: First Place - Kassie White and Brennan West, Second Place - Griffin Browning and Henry McInnis, and Third Place - Charlotte Sowards and Emilie Hart.
Pictured below in the sixth image is Kyndall Hughes who placed First in Documentary.
Pictured below in the seventh image are Hollyn Darley, Lexi Kate Powers, Ellie Kate Youngblood, and Sydney Butler who received an Honorable Mention for Group Exhibits.
Pictured below in the last image are Aaron Irvin, Ben Bailey, Claire Garbett, Graham Gaines, Julia James, Nathan Bruce, Pierson Whittington, Sam Steward, and Sophie Rehberg who received an Honorable Mention for Individual Exhibits.
