National History Day Showcase prepares students for future Published March 13, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Months of preparation paid off for approximately 130 students from six Department of Defense Dependents Schools Isles District schools during the 2nd Annual Isles District National History Day Showcase at Lakenheath High School Feb. 28. Students worked individually or in groups of two or three to make projects such as exhibits, documentaries, research papers and websites based on this year's showcase theme, "Turning Points in History." The showcase gave students the opportunity to "enhance their skills in presentations and the research process," said Juliet Ramos, DoDDS, Isles District Social Studies Instructional Systems Specialist. "We are talking about 21st century learning," Ramos said. "It's about preparing students for the future, for employers, for college, where they want students to be savvy and work collaboratively. They want them to be problem solvers." "This type of activity helps them get that under their belt," she added. The students chose the topic of their projects, which allowed them to pursue one that caught their interest. Ethan Locke, a 15-year-old showcase participant from Lakenheath High School, wondered what happened to the Vikings, so he decided to use the event to find out. "I thought that the Vikings just went on a killing spree and didn't really stop until they eventually got taken over and were killed," Ethan said. "But, learning that they actually converted to Christianity and how it happened was incredible." "It took a lot of time and patience," he added, noting that he and his partner, Adam Roche-Higgins, spent two months on the project. According to the judges, the students' effort was evident in the quality of their work. "I was impressed with how involved students were in their topic and how each had a vested interest in it," said Storey Thompson, showcase judge and Club Beyond leader at the RAF Lakenheath Chapel. "It's great to see kids using up-to-date technology in the classroom." Congratulations to the following 1st Place winners of the 2nd Annual Isles District National History Day Showcase: Apprentice Division - Grades 4-5 1st Place winners: Group Documentary: Haleigh Bricker, Jessica Eid, Marisa Aragon, Makaila Quinata Website: Drew Listello Group Exhibit: Marisol Ontiveros, Rachel Hoerner, Elizabeth Rowan Junior Division - Grades 6-8 1st Place Winners: Group Documentary: Zoe Greszler, Maggie Solberg Individual Website: Faith Quinslick Group Website: Daniel Orcutt, Eli Petrovich, George Rushlau, Richard Greszler Individual Exhibit: Isabel Black Group Exhibit: Alex Huibsch, Luke Kobes Research Paper: Jacob Grimmage Senior Division - Grades 9-12 1st Place Winners: Website: Eddie Kupec Documentary: Dustin Varia, Livana Gross Individual Exhibit: Carmen Cabrera Group Exhibit: Adam Roche-Higgins, Ethan Locke Research Paper: Summer Torres