Two local boys went to Washington D.C. recently to compete with hundreds of other students in a nationwide competition. John Rockenbach and Jacob Allum participated in the National History Day Competition (NHD) held in the nation’s capital June 15-19.

NHD is an educational program which aims to promote the study of history in American schools. “It is a meaningful way for students to study historical issues and people,” said Mack Lyon teacher, Bev Bradley, who coached the boys in preparing their project. Each year NHD uses a new theme to guide students for historical studies. The theme for 2008 was Conflict & Compromise. Once students select their topics, they are required to do in-depth research. They then present a project in one of five categories. Rockenbach and Allum chose to design an educational website dealing with the Treaty of Versailles.

Allum said that before starting in on the project he knew nothing about the Treat of Versailles. He also had no experience in making a website. During the course of the school year he became pretty knowledgeable about both, however.

Bradley assisted the boys in doing the research for the project. But they needed some special help in creating the website. For that they received help from Lyon computer teacher, Cyndi Brinker. “The teachers were a huge help to the boys in getting the project done,” said Rockenbach’s mother, Linda. “They spent a lot of time with them after school.”

The boys competed in Las Vegas at the state level back in April and qualified to go to the National competition. In June, they travelled to Washington D.C. to the big event. Hundreds of kids from all over the country came to University of Maryland campus to compete. The boys presented their project to judges and went through a round of interviews where they answered questions about their work. At the closing ceremony they were awarded the Outstanding State Entry in their division.