PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS ADVANCE TO 2010 NATIONAL HISTORY DAY CONTEST IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Philadelphia, June 1, 2010- Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced today that Philadelphia School District students will compete in the 2010 Kenneth E. Behring National Day History Contest, the final stage of local and state level historical research and project competitions. They will join other grade 6-12 students from 50 states and American schools across the world in presenting competing projects from a variety of historical research areas. rnrnStudents from CCA Baldi Middle School, Masterman and Constitution High Schools partnered with teachers for a year-long program during which they analyzed historical topics and presented projects that won top prizes at the 2010 National History Day Contest in Pennsylvania. Many of the Philadelphia students’ projects reflect African American history and other historical topics with local ties to Philadelphia. They will join other students in representing a Pennsylvania delegation at the 2010 Kenneth E. Behring National Day History Contest that will take place from June 13- June 17 at the University of Maryland. rnrn“I’d like to congratulate the students and teachers from the Philadelphia School District for their hard work and collaboration in creating projects that share important stories of both Philadelphia’s history and that of our nation,” said Mayor Nutter. “I’m really proud of their accomplishments and wish them the best of luck as they represent the City and Commonwealth on a national stage.”rnrnAfter a 20 year absence, support from the Commonwealth, community partners, and over 40 Philadelphia history institutions helped bring the National History Day program back to Philadelphia in 2004. The City went on to develop an innovative learning model that was recognized by the History Channel in 2008. Students will compete at the Kenneth E. Behring National Day History Contest for a variety of prizes, including a $10,000 prize from the History Channel and four-year college scholarships. Constitution High School teacher Marc Brascof will be one of 50 teachers from across the country to compete for a $10,000 national teaching prize created by philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring. The following students and teachers from Philadelphia won the 2010 National History Day Contest in Pennsylvania and will compete in Washington, D.C.:rnrnConstitution High School rnrn2nd Place, Group Performance: The Gradual Abolition Act – Freedom by DegreesrnStudents: Charmira Nelson, Brian CornelrnTeachers: Marc Brasof and Francine Gold rnrnWinner, Senior Division PA Teacher: Marc Brasof rnrnMasterman High School rnrn1st place, Group Exhibit: Brethren in Bonds: The Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery SocietyrnStudents: Numrah Bashir, Nellie Hunter, Deblyn Lawrence, Amy LouiernTeacher: Amy Cohen rnrn1st Place, Historical Paper: Mount Airy: Integration as InnovationrnStudent: Melanie MillwoodrnTeacher: Amy Cohen rnrn1st Place, Group Documentary: WDAS: Broadcasting a Frequency of ChangernStudents: Katie Breiner, Laura Garcia, Sam KopanskyrnTeacher: Amy Cohen rnrn3rd Place, Group Performance: Tapping into HistoryrnStudents: Isabel Ramos, BJ TindalrnTeacher: Amy Cohen rnrnBest School, Senior Division: Masterman High School rnrnCCA Baldi Middle School rnrnWinner, PA NHD Scavenger Hunt: Thomas DavidenkornTeacher: Matthew Scanlan