Swansea, SC - Nine Swansea High School students spent their first week of summer at the National History Day National Competition at University of Maryland and Washington, DC.
Arelly Silverio Huerta, Austin Skeen, Elizabeth Moran, Fisher Brantley, Peyton Kirby, Kaylee Spires, Bishop Thomas, David Drook and Dyllon Kinlaw competed against students from all 50 states and other countries around the world, including China, Guam, Singapore, American Samoa, Korea and Puerto Rico.
In addition to the competition and interviews with academics, students attended a dance, traded SC buttons with other students from around the world, navigated the DC bus and metro system, explored Smithsonian museums, and marched in the opening ceremony parade.
One group of students (Fisher Brantley, Peyton Kirby and Kaylee Spires) was chosen to display their exhibit and present their research at the National Museum of American History. These students spent the day informing museum visitors about their project.
Overall, it was the journey from class curriculum to the competition in DC that created life experiences from which students learned invaluable lessons.
“I was amazed by the positive outlook of the Swansea High students. The looks of wonder on their faces as we toured the city made me smile,” commented Amanda Pasonen, a Swansea High teacher and chaperone on the trip.
Students not only learned from the rigorous reading, writing, research, and interviewing, but they experienced camaraderie, teamwork and exploration.
