| NEW YORK,
NY (May 30, 2008) – On May 30, the Gilder Lehrman
Institute of American History announced the winners
of the 2008 Civil War Essay Contest. The contest, open
only to students in Gilder Lehrman schools, is designed
to enhance knowledge of the Civil War era and reward
outstanding research and writing.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and
the Civil War Round Table of New York sponsor the contest,
which is in its tenth year. Winners were selected by
a panel of jurors from both organizations based on use
of primary sources; clearness and originality of thesis;
organization of the essay; correct documentation of
sources; and quality of writing. One hundred forty-five
high school students and thirty-seven middle school
students, representing the top essays submitted from
thirty high schools and seven middle schools, participated
in the contest.
“It is a pleasure to see that critical thinking
is flourishing at high schools and middle schools around
the country,” said Martin Smith of the Civil War
Round Table of New York.
“These students have shown their passion and skill
as researchers and writers of American history,”
said Lesley Herrmann, Executive Director of the Gilder
Lehrman Institute of American History.
The following prizes will be awarded at a ceremony in
New York City on June 11:
High School:
First Prize ($1,000 to the winner,
$500 honorarium to the winner’s school):
Amanda Ebert (Milwaukee High School of the Arts, Milwaukee,
WI)
“The Woman's Sphere: Anti-Feminism Within the
Abolitionist Movement”
Second Prize ($750):
April Soohoo (John F. Kennedy High School, Bellmore,
NY)
“The Forgotten Warriors: Children of the Civil
War”
Third Prize ($500):
Michael Commesso (Patchogue-Medford High School, Medford,
NY)
“Cotton in the Civil War”
Honorable Mention ($100) (in alphabetical
order):
Giuliano Fulco (Salesian High School, New Rochelle,
NY)
Shanee Griffith (Notre Dame School, New York, NY)
Katherine Kaze (Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn,
NY)
Esther Kim (Academy of American Studies, Long Island
City, NY)
Sarah Knight (Eureka High School, Eureka, CA)
Ornella Delle Noci (Notre Dame School, New York, NY)
Joseph David Redemann (Milwaukee High School of the
Arts, Milwaukee, WI)
Middle School:
First Prize ($300):
Judy Pu (Louis Pasteur Middle School, Little Neck, NY)
“The Domino Effect: Causes of the Civil War”
Second Prize ($200):
Nora Kane (Susan B. Anthony Middle School, Minneapolis,
MN)
“John Brown's Harper's Ferry Raid”
Third Prize ($100):
Brodin Jentz (Susan B. Anthony Middle School, Minneapolis,
MN)
“The Emancipation Proclamation”
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History sponsors
over forty history schools nationwide. Gilder Lehrman
history schools are rigorous, college-preparatory schools
centered on American history. They have a track record
of raising test scores and sending more than ninety
percent of graduating seniors to college. At the core
of these schools is a four-year sequence of courses
in American history.
Founded in 1994, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American
History promotes the study and love of American history.
The Institute serves teachers, students, scholars, and
the general public. It helps create history-centered
schools, organizes seminars and programs for educators,
produces print and electronic publications and traveling
exhibitions, sponsors lectures by eminent historians,
and administers a History Teacher of the Year Award
in every state through its partnership with Preserve
America. The Institute also awards the Lincoln, Frederick
Douglass, and George Washington Book Prizes, and offers
fellowships for scholars to work in the Gilder Lehrman
Collection. The Institute maintains two websites, www.gilderlehrman.org
and the quarterly online journal www.historynow.org.
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