Local Student Sam Hull wins trip to Washington D.C. for national history day competition
Special To The Current
Folly Beach resident Sam Hull was among three Palmetto Scholars Academy students to earn a trip to Washington, D.C. based on their submissions to the state National History Day competition held earlier this year.
Hull, a rising senior, took first place in the senior individual exhibit category with her entry titled, Leonardo Da Vinci and Study of Human Anatomy, during the state National History Day competition held at Westwood High School in Blythewood. She went on to represent South Carolina at the national competition held June 12-16 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md, just a few miles away from the nation’s capital.
“I’m crazy excited,” she said. “I’m pretty sure I cried the whole way home (from the state competition).”
National History Day is an academic enrichment program for students in grades 6-12. Students select topics connected to an annual theme and complete their own in-depth research on the topic. This year, the annual theme is “Exploration, Encounter, and Exchange in History.”
Students present their conclusions by creating museum-style exhibits, media documentaries, research papers, interactive websites, and dramatic performances.
Hull said winning the state was a surprise to her.
“I had no idea I would win. I like to keep my mind open. Really, any of us had a high chance of going,” she said. “I got to see other exhibits and I found it interesting to see how everyone interpreted the theme.
“I’m looking forward to (the trip). I just want to meet a whole bunch of different people.”
Hull had some company while in D.C..Fellow PSA students Ke’Von Singleton and Malik Hubbard paired to take first place in the senior group documentary division to also earn a spot at nationals.
In addition, they have been selected by NHD state coordinator Mary Katherine Marshall to represent the state and talk about their project at the Breakfast on the Hill event sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“NHD is not just about history,” Marshall said. “It is designed to not only foster students’ love for history but to encourage them to think for themselves and demonstrate why their interpretation of their research is significant.”
