Utah students win prizes in History Day contest
The Utah students placed high out of half a million entries in the 29th annual National History Day contest. It is based in Maryland and open to students in grades six through 12.
Zara Zemmels, a 10th-grader at West High School during the past school year, took first in the nation for the senior category of individual performance. Her topic was music censorship. She won $1,000 cash and is eligible for a two-year full-tuition scholarship to Utah State University.
The other four winners are:
• Amelia Weixler, going into ninth grade, West High, junior individual performance on Rosie the Riveter, ninth in nation in her category, eligible for two-year full-tuition scholarship to USU, also special award: "Outstanding Entries for Utah," junior division;
• Kaden Groves, eighth grade, American Fork Junior High, junior individual documentary on American Indian conflict with white settlers in Jamestown, Va., 13th in nation in his category, awarded a $5,000 cash prize: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Early American History;
• Haley Parker, a graduate of San Juan High School, senior division historical paper on Utah uranium mining, 12th in nation in her category, and $1,000 cash award: the Best in Utah History, from the Utah State Historical Society.
Zemmels and Weixler, who are former students of Bryant Middle School in Salt Lake School District, presented their studies for their alma mater's summer school classes this week.
"This is an example of being the best you can be," Bryant Middle School Principal Frances Battle told the audience.
For her performance Zemmels, decked out in a costume including black leather pants and red heels, led the audience through a historical review of how music has been censored through the decades.
Tidbits included The Doors refusing to censor themselves on the 1960s Ed Sullivan Show. The band, when performing "Light My Fire," was told to find a different word than "higher." They didn't.
Zemmels detailed other cases of attempted censorship with bands such as Peter, Paul and Mary for their song "Puff the Magic Dragon." From there, punk rock and heavy metal were targeted by groups such as the Parents' Music Resource Center, resulting in parental advisory labels.
Recent comments
WOW. Congrts to these students! this is a great accomplishment. I…
Anonymous | July 3, 2008 at 2:08 p.m.
If you were their home school teacher I would be really worried.…
RE: Wings | June 28, 2008 at 12:24 a.m.
Hey lady, what tangent are you on???
Just be happy for the accomplishments…Anonymous | June 27, 2008 at 1:43 p.m.
