National History Day Summary By Capt. Jim Noone, USNR (Ret.)
The NHF featured Rebecca Bemiss’s presentation at its August 12, awards luncheon.
T
wo students and seven teachers from around the country were awarded prizes by the NHF for outstanding projects with naval/maritime themes in the annual National History Day (NHD) competition that concluded June 19.
DANIEL SWARTZ
Winners of the coveted NHF Coskey Prizes for Naval History were Jessie Henderson of Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, TN, and Rebecca Bemiss of John F. Kennedy Middle School in Plantsville, CT. Ms. Henderson’s project was a Senior Individual Documentary entitled “Aerographer’s Mates: Communicating Weather from Sea to Shining Sea.” Ms. Bemiss’ entry was a Junior Individual Performance entitled “Mavis Batty and the Geese That Never Cackled.” The Coskey Prizes are awarded in both senior (high school) and junior (middle school) divisions. Each received a $1,000 Coskey Prize award. Links to the two students’ video presentations will be published in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Naval History (www.ijnhonline.org). NHF established the prizes in 1999 and later renamed them in honor of the late Captain Ken Coskey, Navy pilot, Vietnam prisoner of war, and former NHF executive director. In addition, NHF Teacher of Distinction awards went to seven teachers in middle or high school whose students (a) win Coskey Prizes or (b) are ranked first, second, or third nationally in their categories for projects with a naval
or maritime theme. These awards consist of $200 honorariums, NHF Certificates of Achievement, one-year NHF memberships, and access to NHF Navy-related research assistance. Following are the Teacher of Distinction winners: •
•
Julie Mitchell, teacher at Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, TN, for the Coskey Prize–winning project by student Jessie Henderson. Remarkably, it was the second straight year that student Henderson and Ms. Mitchell received the Coskey and Teacher of Distinction awards, respectively, in the NHD competition. Brian Zawadniak, teacher at John F. Kennedy School, Plantsville, CT, whose student, Rebecca Bemiss, won the Coskey Prize.
• Stephanie Hammer, teacher at William Monroe Middle School, Stanardsville, VA. Her students Kayla Shaller and Caroline Bruton won 1st place for their Junior Group Documentary, “Communicating Through Cell Walls: The Secret Correspondence of American POWs in Vietnam.” • Megan Souchek, teacher at New Caney High School, New Caney, TX. Student Carter Holton earned 1st place for his Senior Individual Exhibit, “The 1900 Storm.” • Justin Carroll, teacher at Deer Creek Middle School, Edmond, OK. Students Jemay Leow, Carter Robbins, and Jacob Rubin won 3rd place for their Junior Group Exhibit, “Navajo Code Talkers: Their Story of Communication.” • Alfred Meadows, teacher at Wilbur Cross High School, New
Continued on page 18
Pull Together • Fall 2021
17
