Calling All Alumni, Parents, and Friends! History Day Mentors Needed

Kevin Flynn
September 8, 2017

This year, for the eighth consecutive year, sophomore US History students from Cretin-Derham Hall will be competing in the National History Day competition.

History Day requires students to conduct research on a history topic of their choosing that fits within the given theme for the year. They then present their findings and analysis using one of five presentation methods, including display board, website, research paper, documentary film, or dramatic performance. 

Our students have achieved great things in the competition. Last year we sent a CDH record: sending ten projects to the state level competition.  We have had several projects advance out-of-state to the national competition in Washington D.C., including a project on the Arthur Lee House in Minneapolis that helped land that site on the National Registry of Historic Places. 

This project requires a tremendous amount of work by the students and causes them to use all the tools of historical inquiry. They have to conduct independent research, evaluate sources, and synthesize all their information into a complete presentation.

Alumni:  Please Considering Volunteering

We can use help from our community of alumni to keep this program vibrant and strong. This year, to support the tremendous work that the students are doing, we are hoping to involve community volunteers in two ways. 

First, do you enjoy learning about history? Have a free hour during the school day on Fridays in the winter? Consider becoming a History Day Mentor and learn about new topics right along with our students.  Our students spend most every Friday from December to February in the school library researching their topics and putting their projects together. Mentors provide an invaluable service by sharing their excitement for learning about our past alongside the students as they complete their projects. 

Secondly, have you been an eyewitness to history? Do you know a great deal about a topic or time period in history? Would you be willing to be interviewed by a student about your experiences? One thing that really separates the amazing projects from the good ones are interviews, conducted by our students, with people who have first-hand knowledge of historical events. Our Cretin, Derham Hall, and Cretin-Derham Hall alumni have done so much and been involved in so many important moments in our state and our nation’s history. Even if you don’t feel like you witnessed any “text book” moments in history, you could help a student understand the context of a time and place, which is a requirement for this project. We would like to compile of list of people who might be willing to be interviewed and their “areas of expertise.” Conducting interviews is truly a life skill that many of our students are terrified of at first but universally say was the most impactful part of their research when they are done. 

If you would like to assist in any way, please contact Kevin Flynn.