Olson Middle School students win State History Day, qualify for nationals

Olson Middle School 7th graders Steven Koutroupas, Gabe Desroches and Josiah Brecheisen will be the first students to represent Bloomington Public Schools in the National History Day competition, taking place at University of Maryland in June. They qualified with a first place finish in the state-level competition in Minneapolis on April 20. Competing students choose a history topic to research and present to a panel of judges in categories like research papers, exhibits, video documentaries, performances or websites. 

Koutroupas placed first in the Junior Individual Website category with his Life is a Highway website, which explains how the interstate highway system transformed everyday life in America.

Desroches and Brecheisen placed first in the Junior Group Website category with their Taking Flight website, which describes how aviation changed the world.

All three are in the Dimensions Academy program for academically gifted students. They are preparing for the national competition by further refining their websites.

Additional awards at the state competition include a fifth place finish by Olson 6th grader Evie Blessing in the Junior Individual Performance category and honorable mentions awarded to three Olson Middle and seven Oak Grove Middle School students.