Gov. Blagojevich congratulates Illinois student qualifiers for National History Day competition

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today congratulated junior and senior high school students from across Illinois who have qualified to compete in the National History Day competition to be held June 15 - 19 in College Park, Maryland.  These students were chosen from more than 1,400 who competed in the Illinois History Expo held May 8 in Springfield. 

"We're very proud of these students for the way they researched and presented the past in new and innovative ways.  We all wish them luck as they compete against students from across the country," said Gov. Blagojevich.    

The Illinois History Expo where the winning students were chosen is coordinated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency's Education Services Program, which also publishes the on-line student history magazine Illinois History, and Illinois History Teacher, which contains teaching materials.  For more information on the program, visit www.Illinois-History.gov.

The students qualifying for National History Day include:

AURORA

• Marisela Soto, East Aurora High School.  Senior individual documentary, "Marie Wilkinson."
• Cati Crawford and Mari Crook, Illinois Math & Science Academy.  Senior group documentary, "Chicago and the Food Frontier."
  

BERWYN

• Anne Aducci, St. Leonard School.  Junior individual exhibit, "Riverview Park:  Laugh your Troubles Away - but at what Cost to Racial Justice."
  

CARBONDALE

• Joan Shang, Raquel Olive, Marian Rapp, Jaysheng Hou and Emily Fink, Carbondale Middle School.  Junior group performance, "Consequences of Yesterday:  The Choppers Tie Plant."
  

CHICAGO

• Julian DiMaio, St. Luke Academy.  Junior paper, "Despair in Paradise:  No Compromise in Pullman, Illinois.".
• Pat Kelly, Mt. Carmel High School.  Senior paper, "Beverly Now:  The Plan that Kept a Community Together."
• Anita Allen, Briana Cato, Jerray Hudgins and Tariq Collins, Earhart Elementary School.  Junior group performance, "Battling Racial Restrictive Covenants."
• Lydia Landor, Taft Academic Center.  Junior individual performance, "Industrial Monarch vs. the Locomotive Fireman:  The Emergence of Workers."
• Thea Bloom, St. Luke Academy.  Junior individual performance, "Cloakmakers vs. Sweaters:  Florence Kelly Pushes Legislators and Factory Owners toward Social Reform."
• Nabila Reem Khondakar, Cook School.  Junior individual documentary, "Under the Smoke."
• Mitchell Caminer, Gar Crowell, Jonathan Kamel and Clifford Vickrey, Lincoln Elementary School.  Junior group exhibit, "To Spy & Suspect:  The Conflict of Domestic Spying."
• Abby Bohnson, Bennett Booth, Emily Bridges and Stacy Weaver, Lincoln Elementary School.  Junior group exhibit, "When the Smoke Clears:  Lucy Page Gaston's Crusade."
• Amanda Walsh and Kayla Bushey, St. Luke Academy.  Junior group documentary, "Citizens vs. Big Business."
• Carl Arkebauer, Ogden Elementary School.  Junior individual exhibit, "The Evolution of Disability Rights in Chicago."
• Josephine Lee, Lincoln Park High School.  Senior individual performance, "Women's Symphony Orchestra of Chicago."
• Ethan Blumenthal, Jones College Prep High School.  Senior individual documentary, "Challenges of Public Housing."
• Tracy Ko and Lesya Vojtovich, Lincoln Park High School.  Senior group exhibit, "WCTU Strives Toward a Sober Chicago."
• Alyssia Komperda, Jon Murphy, Everrett Murrell, Jon Parnell and Lea Starling, Lindblom Math and Science Academy.  Senior group exhibit, "Lindblom 1968."
• Danielle Taylor, Providence-St. Mel High School.  Senior individual exhibit, "Diphtheria and Urbanization."
  

DES PLAINES

• Sarah Seibert, Science & Arts Academy.  Junior individual documentary, "The Chicago River:  Moving in a New Direction."
  

LINCOLNSHIRE

• Carly Penzik and Geneva Costopulos, Stevenson High School.  Senior group performance, "Mary Todd Lincoln."
• Aliya DeGrazia and Jamie Levit, Stevenson High School.  Senior group performance, "Escobedo vs. Illinois."
• Sneha Elango, Stevenson High School.  Senior individual performance, "My Sisters."
• Margaret Straszewski, Stevenson High School.  Senior individual exhibit, "Comics Code Authority."
  

OAK PARK

• Olivia Kelleher, St. Giles School.  Junior paper, "The Lincoln-Douglas Senatorial Debates of 1858."
  

PAYSON

• Wendy Whelan, Hila Tieman, Harlee Flesner and Katie Whelan, Payson Seymour School.  Senior group documentary, "Albert Cashier:  A Life of Conflict and Compromise."
  

SKOKIE

• Julie Robinson, Niles West High School.  Senior paper, "Jane:  Underground Abortion Service - Paving the Way for Women for Freedom of Choice."
• George Buro and Abbey Yanuardi, East Prairie School.   Junior group documentary, "Skokie Lagoon."