Clubs prepare to compete at nationals over summer

Clubs+prepare+to+compete+at+nationals+over+summer

Several academic clubs around the high school are preparing to compete at nationals this summer.  Some of these groups have been taking people for years.  For others, though, 2018 is their first time to summer competition.

Initially, National History Day will be taking off to the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland to begin presenting their projects on June 10.  Kale Michael, Abigail Noyes, Jade Essman, Alex Taylor, Alison Johannes, August Chapas, Hayden Wells, Kim Vu, Michael Conaway, Noah Belt, Madeline Hulsing, and Xianne Williams are all attending.  Most of these students are enrolled in AP History.

History Day sponsor Mrs. Susan Sittenauer says, “The students began the research of their topic back in September.  They accumulated at least 30 sources, wrote an annotated bibliography and a 500-word process paper.  Then they created their project.  They completed in district competition in February and the state competition in April.”

To further prepare to compete, students will be making any necessary edits to their projects over the next few weeks.  A tour of DC is also planned before National History Day wraps up for the year on June 14.

Shortly after National History Day, head debate and forensics coach Mr. Zach Dinges will be taking Jillian Roy and Eric Patterson to compete at the National Speech and Debate Tournament Fort Lauderdale, Florida from June 16 to the 22.

Mr. Dinges says, “Jillian Roy was nominated by our district committee to compete in World Schools Debate, and Eric Patterson qualified by competing at the district qualifier and taking 2nd place.”

Both students will be preparing with their coaches and through attending workshops during the month of June.

In addition to competing, they will be “enjoying the sights and some cultural experiences, like great seafood and the beach!” says Mr. Dinges.

Mr. Dinges hopes to see more people that share a love with acting and performing join the debate and/or forensics classes next year.  In 2019, nationals will be in Dallas, Texas.

For the very first time in school history, several members of International Thespian Society (ITS) will be attending the national convention starting up June 25 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Kyle Kleiner, Sage Hernandez, Reagan Propps, Chris Richardson, Hayden Wells, Lily Gallardo, and Mason Clark all qualified by first rehearsing a 5-minute script of their choice, and then going on to act that out at the state festival in January.

“They then had to receive a score of 18-20 from the judges,” ITS sponsor Ms. Katie Murphy says.

Only two other groups received this honor from the entire state.  The theatre department has been fundraising all year.

As a part of the conference, Ms. Murphy says, “They are also able to take classes with professional actors, and they get to see plays and musicals from all over the country.”

The convention concludes on June 30.

Finally, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are ready to compete at the National Leadership Conference beginning June 28 in Baltimore, Maryland.  Joe Crome, Treven Broxterman, Jaiden Anderson, Josh Duncan, Riley Polter, Sophie Sparks, Adam Schultz, Trent Cox, Tyler Beavers, and Andrew and Zach Patton all attended the State Conference in the end of March.

FBLA sponsor Mr. Ruda says, “Some students had pre-made presentations that they presented to a panel of judges, others qualified by testing and presenting a solution to a case study and the final way to qualify for Nationals was to finish in the top four of an individual test.”

Those students with projects will continue to finetune and rehearse their presentations according to judges’ feedback from the state competitions.  Mr. Ruda also says that students are looking forward to the opportunity to visit a new city and experience the associated history and culture.  The national conference concludes on July 1.

Results will, of course, be posted as soon as they become available, so stay tuned to Seaman High School’s social media outlets.