Press Release
June 11, 2019
Contact: Steve Hawkins
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0754
shawkins@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter
Oklahoma National History Day First Place Winners Selected to Showcase Film on National Platform
OKLAHOMA CITY — Three senior division students from Classen School of Advanced Studies—Laurel Mossman, Kate Schein and Amelia Peoples—will present their Oklahoma National History Day winning documentary, “Fighting for the Right to Love: The Triumph and Tragedy of Loving v. Virginia,” at the Oprah Winfrey Theater at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) on Wednesday, June 12. This is the second year a documentary from Oklahoma has been selected to be shown in this prestigious venue.
Typically, there are only 15 documentaries featured in this showcase from the entire national competition. After winning first place in the Group Documentary category at the state contest, the students submitted their entry to the Education Department at NMAAHC for consideration for the showcase. On June 1, they were notified by a National History Day representative that they had been chosen for one of the presentation slots.
“The honor of getting to show their documentary at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students. We are all so proud of them for this accomplishment,” said Sarah Dumas, director of education for the Oklahoma History Center and state coordinator for Oklahoma National History Day.
The Senior Division competition for Oklahoma National History Day was held on May 2. More than 300 students presented their exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites and papers at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City for the opportunity to advance to the National History Day contest held each summer at the University of Maryland at College Park.
State competitors were identified from a pool of contestants at regional contests throughout the state. First- and second-place winners at the state competition level advanced to the National History Day contest, set for June 9–13. Prizes are awarded at all levels, including more than $150,000 in scholarships for national winners.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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