Speakers: Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) & National History Day Competition
Rotary Youth Exchange has been a central program of District for decades. RYE is a volunteer-driven, true one-to-one exchange. We have over a hundred volunteers in our district whose time makes these international opportunities possible for students from our local communities as well as those from other countries who come visit us. For every student we receive, we are able to provide an opportunity for a local student to gain international experience.
“If every 17-year-old had a chance to be a Rotary Youth Exchange Student, there would be no more war,” is what Carl Wilhelm Stenhammer of Sweden said about Rotary Youth Exchange when he was the Rotary International President of 2005-2006/ This is the sentiment that motivates our work in this program: world peace and understanding through one-on-one, international relationships.
ALSO,
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY COMPETITION
Will Bladt and Foothills School Students on the National History Day Competition
Will Bladt is the Director of Development at Foothills School of Arts and Sciences located in downtown Boise. Foothills School was established in 1992 as an independent, non-profit organization for preschool to 9th grade students. In June of 2024, two of Will’s students, Sofia Marshall and Emery Hajjar, competed in the National History Day (NHD) competition. They completed original research into the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster and presented their findings first locally, then in the state competition, and eventually at the national championship in Washington, DC. The duo made it higher in the national championship than any of the other entries from the state of Idaho! Sofia and Emery will present their findings, share learning and reflections from the competition.
The National History Day (NHD) Competition is an annual contest that encourages students in grades 6-12 to conduct historical research on a theme and present their findings through papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites. Students compete at local, state, and national levels, with the national competition held each year in June at the University of Maryland, College Park. The competition promotes critical thinking, research skills, and historical understanding while allowing students to explore topics of personal interest within the given theme.
A world leader in history and civics education, National History Day® is a nonprofit education organization improving the teaching and learning of history. NHD reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year via its international student history contest and its wide range of teacher professional development programs, curriculum tools, and other educational activities.
NHD’s core program is its competition in which students in grades 6–12 choose a topic and dive deeply into the past by conducting extensive research in libraries, archives, and museums. They then present their conclusions and evidence through papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites, moving through a series of contest levels where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. Through this process, students develop skills in communication, project management, and historical thinking. Their teachers do as well.
Studying the past helps us make sense of the present to move forward into the future. History education is essential for participatory citizenship. Knowing where we came from helps us understand where we are going. In the process, studying the past builds empathy and hones research, writing, and analytical skills. An independent study confirmed that students who participate in NHD outperform their peers in ways that extend far beyond the classroom and the competition.
Guests are welcome, and we’ll see you on Thursday!