Junior headed to History Day Competition this summer

Kyrah Hunter

Junior Amanda Arst displays her finalist medal at the state History Day competition. Arst will head to the  national competition in Maryland in June. Photo courtesy Artie Arst.
Junior Amanda Arst displays her finalist medal at the state History Day competition. Arst will head to the national competition in Maryland in June. Photo courtesy Artie Arst.

 

Though junior Amanda Arst has competed in many project exhibitions over the years, this next competition might be a challenge. But that won’t stop her.

Arst has worked hard to take her place in the National History Day competition, which will take place in Maryland in June.

Her project centers on Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The project takes the form of a large, tri-fold like exhibit, filled with pictures, text and even a doll of Roosevelt.

As for the competition, 3,000 students, parents, and teachers from several different countries will be competing. The competition will extend over four days, and having her exhibit in the Maryland climate for that extended period raises some concerns for Arst.

“It’s a lot more humid in Maryland and everything is glued on,” Arst said.  The reason that the humidity is a concern is that it may cause the glue to decay and items to fall off the project.

Despite fears of collapse, there are  high hopes for Arst and her journey, including her social sciences teacher Davy Keo.

“I know history isn’t her favorite subject,” Keo said. “But when she finds a subject she’s interested in, she sticks to it.”

Some would say that she has a lucky charm, Arst would say that she studies a lot.

“I just like  the competitions,” Arst said. “They’re just really fun for me.”