Approximately 160 junior high and high school students will display their historical knowledge during the 2019 Brazos Valley Regional History Fair held Friday, Feb. 8, at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.
Sponsored by the Blinn College District’s Star of the Republic Museum and local businesses and organizations, the theme for this year’s history fair is “Triumph and Tragedy in History.” Entries are open to students in grades 6-12 who have qualified for the regional competition by competing in their local school fair.
Students from Brazos, Grimes, and Washington counties will compete, including students from the Bryan middle schools, Bryan High School, Anderson-Shiro High School, Brenham Junior High School, and Navasota junior and senior high schools. Categories for the fair include historical papers, exhibits, performances, websites, and documentaries.
“Hosting the history fair exposes a new audience to the Star of the Republic Museum,” said Lisa Berg, Star of the Republic Museum curator of education and coordinator of the Brazos Valley Regional History Fair. “These are young students who are interested in history and are excited about history, so getting to learn about where Texas became Texas and to display their historical knowledge at the history fair is a unique opportunity.”
This marks the 14th year the Star of the Republic Museum has hosted the history fair at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.
Judging takes place between 9 and 11:30am, and each student has a scheduled interview time with the judges to answer questions and describe the project’s research and analysis. The judges include several Blinn faculty, area educators, volunteers from local historical commissions, and history enthusiasts from the community.
At 3pm, the awards ceremony will announce the winners, including those who will advance to the state competition on April 27 in Austin. Winners at the state competition can advance to the National History Day competition held at the University of Maryland in June.
In addition, selected competitors will win special awards totaling $1,550. Sponsors include the Blinn College District; Washington on the Brazos State Park Association; Brazos County Historical Commission; Jared Patout, CPA; Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site; Anderson Baptist Church; Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Dr. Richard Fox Brenham Chapter; Fultz & Fultz, PLLC; Washington County Historical Commission; Daughters of the American Revolution, Cpt. Jabez Deming Chapter; John Brieden State Farm Insurance; Daughters of the American Revolution, La Villita Chapter; Henry P. Mayo; Laurie and Duane Schlitter; Miller Insurance Agency/RVOS; Evelyn Boatwright; Sons of the Republic of Texas, William Joel Bryan Chapter #14; Daughters of the American Revolution, Robert Raines Chapter; Blue Bell Creameries; Cyndee Smith; Houston and Anne McGaugh; Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Zuber-Hadley Chapter; M&M Apparel; and Lacina & Kenjura, P.C.
Blue Bell Creameries is donating cups of vanilla ice cream for all to enjoy at the event.
The public is invited to view the performances beginning at 9am. The exhibits, historical papers, and websites will be available for public viewing after judging ends at noon.
The Star of the Republic Museum is located at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site off State Highway 105. It was created by the Texas Legislature and is administered by Blinn College as a cultural and educational institution. Daily museum hours are 10am to 5pm.
For more information, call (936) 878-2461 or visit www.starmuseum.org.
