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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- May 3, 2004
Contact: Scott Hirko, Public Relations Officer
(517) 372-7770 -- shirko [at] michiganhumanities.org

“BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION: A 50TH ANNIVERSARY REFLECTION” STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

(LANSING)-----“Brown v. Board of Education: A 50th Anniversary Reflection” was the theme of a special student essay contest sponsored by the Michigan Council for History Education in cooperation with Michigan Humanities Council. Students in the 4th through 12th grade were invited to write essays of up to 1,000 words in length that discussed the significance of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on May 17, 1954.

“We believe that students learned about the role of the Brown decision in helping shape the development of the modern civil rights movement,” said Jan Fedewa, Executive Director of Michigan Humanities Council. “The importance of federal court decisions is a key concept in the Social Studies MEAP now being taken by 5th, 8th and 11th grade students in our schools,” added Jim Cameron, Executive Director of the Michigan Council for History Education.

The essays were judged on their creativity and originality; use of historical documents and events; thoughtful responses to the theme; and clear and effective presentation of ideas. Prizes of $100 for 1st place and $50 for second place were presented in three grade clusters of 4th-6th; 7th-9th, and 10th-12th. All students received a certificate of appreciation. Winners included:

• Grades 4-6
  1st Place Molly Powers, 4th grade, Webster Elementary School, Pontiac
  2nd Place Dionte Carter, 4th grade, Perdue Academy, Pontiac
• Grades 7-9
  1st Place Virat Gupta, 8th grade, Smith Middle school, Troy
  2nd Place Jessica Kraft, 8th grade, East Hills Middle School, Bloomfield Hills
• Grades 10-12
  1st Place James Givens, 12th grade, Pontiac Northern High School, Pontiac
  2nd Place Yan W. Chen, 11th grade, Ferndale High School

For more information, contact: Jim Cameron, Executive Director, Michigan Council for History Education, Saline High School, 7190 N. Maple Road, Saline MI 48176 or call 734-429-8030 or email cameronj@saline.k12.mi.us

Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is the state’s independent, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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