South Orangetown Middle School

South Orangetown Middle School seventh-grader Matt T. placed third in the research paper category at the National History Day Lower Hudson Regional Contest on March 10 at St. Thomas Aquinas College. He is an alternate for the New York State tournament in Cooperstown next month.

“Conflict and compromise” was this year’s contest theme, and a memory of his fifth-grade social studies teacher inspired his choice of topic. “I remembered Mr. Krump saying that the Connecticut Compromise was the most important part of the Constitution,” Matt recalls. “It determined how states would be represented by establishing a two-house legislative branch.”

A first-time National History Day entrant, learned about the contest–and worked on his entry–in Challenge Lab. “I’m very proud of Matt,” says enrichment and technology teacher Mr. Andrew McIntosh, noting that Challenge Lab students and teachers have been involved with National History Day in the past. “Last year, I was a volunteer judge for multimedia projects and the previous year, I mentored a group of eighth-graders who entered a multimedia project. Competitions like National History Day are part of the diverse selection of projects students are pursuing through Challenge Lab.”

Matt plans to return next year and hopes other SOMS students do, too. “I saw that other schools had groups of students competing together. It’d be a lot of fun if more kids did it. There are several categories–research paper, website, performance, exhibit and documentary–so no matter what your talent is, there’s a way to participate.”

Learn more about National History Day on the contest website at https://www.nhd.org/.

SOMS student Matt T. wearing third place medal won at Regional National History Day Contest

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