ORONO — At Maine National History Day, 261 students from 30 middle and high schools showcased exhibits, papers, websites, documentaries and performances based on their original research on Saturday, April 7, at the University of Maine. The 173 entries in the statewide contest are the most since the event began to be hosted at the University of Maine five years ago.

Awards were presented in several categories, and the top state winners are eligible to compete in the national contest June 10 to 14 at the University of Maryland. A list of all 2018 award winners is on the Maine National History Day website.

Maine National History Day is a partnership between the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Human Development and the Margaret Chase Smith Library, with support from the University of Maine Humanities Center, Maine Humanities Council and the Maine Historical Society. This year’s theme was “Conflict and Compromise in History.”

National History Day is an academic program that began in 1980 to promote critical thinking, research and presentation skills through project-based learning for students of all abilities in grades six to 12. More than 500,000 students, working with thousands of teachers, participate annually in the national contest.

The 2019 contest in Maine will include a regional competition for the first time ever, to be hosted in Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn. The next statewide contest is scheduled for the University of Maine on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

For information about the Maine National History Day program and how to get involved as a student, parent, teacher or judge, contact state coordinator John Taylor at the Margaret Chase Smith Library, john.m.taylor@maine.edu or 207-474-7133.

Individual Exhibit-Senior first-place winner is Rebekah Tilton of Buckfield Jr.-Sr. High School for “Lowell Mill Girls.”

Individual Exhibit-Junior third-place winner is Roger Keogh of Buckfield Jr.-Sr. High School for “The Aroostook War: Rivalry and Resolve.”

Individual Performance-Junior second-place winner is Hadley Blodgett of Buckfield Jr.-Sr. High School for “Hawaii’s Queen: How the U.S. Expropriated the Aloha State.” 

Taking first in Labor History-Senior was Brian Williams of Buckfield Jr.-Sr. High School for “The Dublin Lockout of 1913.”

Winning first in Labor History from left are Zoe Higgins and William Goroshin Buckfield Jr.-Sr. High School for “The Smothers Brothers vs. CBS.”

Earning second place in Labor History-Junior is Willa Galipeau-Eldridge of Bruce M. Whittier Middle School for “After the War: Should Rosie Return Home?”

Taking first place in Maritime Award-Junior is Lucas Frechette of Bruce M. Whittier Middle School for “U-Boats During WWII.”

Winning  third in Junior Group Documentary are Abrial Chamberlain, pictured, and Emma Turkington, who is absent, from Bruce M. Whittier Middle School, Poland. Their topic was “Josephine Baker: Dancer, Singer, Civil Rights Activist.”

Junior Group Exhibit third-place winners are Trinity Sands, left, and Riley Day of Bruce M. Whittier Middle School, Poland. Their topic was “Causes of WWI and America’s Involvement.”

Earning first in Junior Group Website are Lucas Kelly, left, and Tyler Robbins, Bruce M. Whittier Middle School, Poland. Their subject was “The Football War.”

Maine National History Day was held at the University of Maine, Saturday, April 7. Senior Group Performance second-place winners from Buckfield Jr.-Sr. High School are, from left, Jenna Doucette, Mitchell Porter, Shyloe Morgan and Cheyanne Goroshin. Their topic was “Chicago’s 1893 Colombian Exposition: How Conflict and Compromise Contributed to the Success of the Fair.”

Junior Individual Documentary first-place winner is Jamie Richardson, Buckfield Jr.-Sr. High School. The topic was “Dorothea Dix: Conflict and Reform in the Treatment of the Mentally Ill.”