National History Day, Virginia District 5

5 Mar 2016                   Mount Vernon High School, VA

Virginia SAR judges present the Martha Washington Medal to Judging Organizer Denise McHugh. From left to right: Dwight Whitney, Dave Thomas, Hank Foresman, Vern Eubanks, Paul Chase, John Callaway, David Allard, Keith Roulou, Denise McHugh, Rich Sherman, Robert Covey (w/mask), Bill Schwetke, and Barry Schwoerer.

     National History Day's Virginia District 5 competitions were held at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, VA, today.  Thirteen of the seventy judges were SAR compatriots representing five chapters: Colonel William Grayson (7), Culpeper Minutmen (1), Fairfax Resolves (1), George Mason (1), and George Washington (3).  Keith Rouleau of the Col. William Grayson Chapter is the Virginia SAR leader for our participation in this event.
     At the Judges Meeting in the morning the Virginia SAR presented the Judges Organizer, Denise McHugh, with the SAR Martha Washington Medal.  Ms McHugh has been the judge organizer for this event for the past five years and always does an outstanding job.  The medal was presented to recognize her efforts on History Day and her other significant contributions to the community.
     Virginia SAR judges participated in judging Junior Group Documentaries, Junior Group Exhibits, Junior Individual Websites, Junior Group Websites, Senior Historical Papers, Senior Individual Documentaries, Senior Individual Exhibits, Senior Group Exhibits, and Senior Individual Websites.  Three of our compatriots also assisted in the runoff competitions.
     The Virginia SAR presented awards in two categories for competitors whose entries covered some aspect of the American Revolution.  A Bronze Good Citizenship Medal was presented to Kelly Jones for her Junior Individual Website, "Sugar Cane & the Americas; and Bronze Good Citizenship Medals were presented to Kai Russell, Ronit Reddy, and Shreyas Mayya, for their Junior Group Website, "Diseases Given and Got".

Fairfax Resolves President Vern Eubanks, on left, and Virginia SAR History Day District 5 leader Keith Rouleau, on right, present Bronze Good Citizenship Medals to the winners.

The standing room only crowd at the National History Day, District 5 Awards Ceremony.