Students Face Off In Competition For National History Day
By Justin Udo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Today is National History day. As part of the festivities, more than 500 students from across Philadelphia faced off in a history competition with a chance to win a scholarship.
The National Constitution Center played host to the students who presented projects on themes of exploration, encounter or exchange in history.
Abraham Lincoln High School junior Jaime Rivera's group project was on the history of climate change.
"We started out by looking at ancient cities that were originally sunk by rising sea levels and decided to connect them to current cities that are about to go under water."
"It's about helping kids through history learn critical thinking skills, learn how to do research, learn how to presentations and also they learn a lot about our democracy."
Event organizer V. Chapman-Smith says over the last eleven years the National History Day program put $2.5 million in resources into Philadelphia schools.
"We have provided supplies to schools, we brought flash drives, we have in kind services that we provide, we provided mentors to teachers in support of their school."
Students who place in the top three of this regional competition win a scholarship to compete for a state championship and could go on to nationals in D.C.
