Southeast to hold annual History Day event Friday

They're students of history, and they'll scream about it at an awards ceremony next Friday at Southeast Missouri State University's Academic Hall.

Dr. Joel Rhodes, assistant professor of history, never tires of the screaming.

"They are screaming like a sporting event. The enthusiasm level is amazing," he said of the annual event.

Rhodes directs the National History Day in Missouri district contest.

About 400 junior high and high school students from more than 20 schools in Southeast Missouri will show off their history projects next Friday at the University Center. Projects will be judged from 9 a.m. to noon.

The students will compete in five categories -- exhibit, documentary, performance, historical paper and Web site. Winners will advance to the state National History Day competition in Columbia, Mo., on April 8.

Winners at the state level will go on to the national contest at the University of Maryland.

This year's national theme is "Taking a Stand in History."

"We have a lot of entries thus far about the civil rights movement," he said.

The University Center Ballroom will be filled with exhibits, said Rhodes.

The competition gives students a chance to take a more hands-on approach to history, Rhodes said.