Traviss Reflects On The Past At History Fair

On Jan. 8, Traviss social studies students participated in a school history fair. The fair showcased students' exhibits, historical papers, and even a performance. First and second place winners at the school level advance to the Polk County History Fair that will be held in February.

This is the third year Traviss has participated and this year's theme was "Conflict and Compromise in History." The theme is chosen every year by the National History Day organization. NHD acts as a sort of parent company as each school, county and state competition in Florida adheres to its contest rules.

Each student is free to choose any topic he or she is interested in as long as it can be connected to the theme. The topics varied greatly and ranged from the Nuremberg Trials to Joseph Merrick, better known as The Elephant Man. There were several landmark Supreme Court case exhibits: Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, Miranda v. Arizona and Tinker v. Des Moines. Since court cases lend themselves so well to this theme, Florida was even represented in treasure hunter Mel Fisher's suit against the state of Florida.

Most of the students stayed with the traditional tri-fold cardboard exhibit board, but a few "thought outside of the box" and came up with some really unique exhibits. Aaron Dansby, a senior in the electricity program, built a full-scale but nonworking, electric chair for his exhibit, "Death on Trial: Debating the Constitutionality of the Death Penalty." The chair was nonworking because "my teacher wouldn't let me," Dansby said.

Aaron said he enjoyed the project. "I learned a lot of interesting things and my view of the death penalty has changed." Megan Hickman, a junior in the Legal Administrative Specialist program, did her project on the Kingsley Plantation and built a replica of the plantation house and a slave cabin.

"Learning about my topic was interesting and it was fun putting my project together," she said.

Daryl Sheffield, a senior in the Medical Administrative Specialist program who did the Elephant Man project said, "I put a lot of hard work and passion into my project and to see people read and ask about it gave me a sense of accomplishment and I'm pretty sure my peers felt the same way about their topics."

The Polk County History Fair will be held Feb. 29, at the Polk County Historical Museum in Bartow. The following Traviss students will be participating:

Individual Exhibits

Brittany Brown - Brown v. Board of Education

Kristen Lashley - Salem Witch Trials

Group Exhibits

Heidi Miranda and Ashley Pence - Brown v. Board of Education

Anthony Rahner and Justin Purdy - Mel Fisher v. State of Florida

Group Performance

- Salem Witch Trials

Andy Salters, Joseph Kane, Michael Macaluso

Historical Paper

Aaron Adams - Tinker v. Des Moines

Stacie Bailey - Salem Witch Trials