LUBBOCK – On February 27, 2016, Texas Tech University hosted the annual South Plains Regional History Fair. The winners of this competition now advance to the Texas History Day state competition sponsored by the Texas State Historical Association on April 30, 2016 in Austin. A total of 67 students competed in the Senior and Junior Divisions, accompanied by 68 teachers and parents. The top two finishers in each category and age division qualified for the state competition.

According to Kelley Coleman, Director of K12 Global Education Outreach at Texas Tech University, "The program is devoted to encouraging the active study of history through research and the analysis of student selected topics. This year's competition was remarkable, with extremely enthusiastic participants and high level project entries. As an educator, it is exciting and rewarding to see students embrace the study of the past."

Results of the South Plains Regional History Fair are as follows:

JUNIOR DIVISION (Grades 6-8)

Individual Documentaries:

• First: Maddie Cannings, Hutchinson Middle School
• Second: Stephanie Ghandour, Hutchinson Middle School
• Third: Isaac Doty, Hutchinson Middle School

Individual Exhibits

• First: Nya Stringer, Hutchinson Middle School
• Second: Reese Benton, Hutchinson Middle School
• Third: Madelynn Schmidt, Hutchinson Middle School

Group Exhibits

• First: Emily Moore and Cameron Davis, Evans Junior High
• Second: Kai Langehennig and Ian Hart, Hutchinson Middle School
• Third: Maya Madrid and Scarlet Marsh, Hutchinson Middle School

Individual Website

• First: Shao-Min Yeh, Hutchinson Middle School
• Second: Aetizaz Sameer, Hutchinson Middle School
• Third: Eva Wu, Hutchinson Middle School

Group Website

• First: Audrey Nichols and Kailea Nichols, Hutchinson Middle School
• Second: Emma Bertelson and Victoria Hernandez, Hutchinson Middle School
• Third: Aidan Jones and Max Hosaka, Hutchinson Middle School

SENIOR DIVISION (Grades 9-12)

Group Exhibits

• First: Madison Blisard, Lauren Gentry and Isaac Reyes, Lubbock-Cooper High School

Group Documentary

• First: Harriet Davis, Savannah Reese and Noah Cruz, Lubbock High School

Individual Documentary

• Olivia Reves, Lubbock-Cooper High School

The Texas State Historical Association is a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to fostering the appreciation, understanding and teaching of Texas History for 119 years. Its publications include the iconic Texas Almanac, The Handbook of Texas and The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, all of which are publicly accessible online.