Throughout history, there have been many instances of people riding the crest of achievement or popularity only to take a sudden fall. And then there were those who started with nothing only to rise to the top.
Students from across the state have spent months researching and preparing projects that fit into that theme — Triumph & Tragedy.
"The main thing is that it is getting young kids out and doing research, primary research," said Letha Johnson, Kansas History Day co-coordinator and archivist with the Kansas State Historical Society.
Young history enthusiasts could research anything, as long as they found a way to relate it to this year's central theme. Sixth- to eighth-graders competed in the junior division, while ninth- through 12th-graders competed in the senior division.
To present the information for judging, they could enter one of four categories — historical paper, exhibit, performance or documentaries. Each category, except the research paper, also was divided between individual and group projects.
Johnson said the competition helps students learn critical thinking and research skills that will help them in college, even if they choose a major outside the history department. The projects themselves often branch out into other disciplines.
"It can really work in a bunch of different classes, not just history per se," she said.
Project subjects varied, ranging from President John F. Kennedy and the Underground Railroad to epidemics and voting systems.
Dotti Ratzlaff, John Mengelkamp and Brandon Rusch, from Rolla (Kan.) High School, said they chose to focus their exhibit on famed Kansas editor William Allen White after a teacher had them read White's books.
Rusch said the most interesting part turned out to be how famous the Emporia editor was, "coming from a small Kansas newspaper to the international status he had."
The top two finishers in each category are invited to compete at National History Day on June 10-14 in College Park, Md.
Johnson is already looking forward to next year.
"It's going to be interesting to see how the documentaries look next year because we have the Web sites coming in," she said.
The new Web site category will start combine the individual and group entries.
The top two winners in each category are invited to National History Day. If one cannot attend, the third place winner is extended an invitation.
Junior Division
Historical paper
First Place: Yunmei Li, Marlatt Elementary School
Second Place: Joanna Epp, Chisholm Middle School
Third Place: Haley Stritzel, Robinson Middle School
Individual exhibit
First Place: Emily Simpson, Uniontown Junior High School
Second Place: Nick Gideon, Topeka Collegiate
Third Place: Carolyn Roederer, Yoder Charter Elementary School
Junior Group Exhibits
First Place: Colby Beardmore and Bailey Evans, Topeka Collegiate
Second Place: Lindsay Frank and Anne Stone, Ottawa Middle School
Third Place: Timothy Graber and Mancera Rafael, Santa Fe Middle
Junior Individual Performances
First Place: Shelby Carpenter, Topeka Collegiate
Second Place: Taylor Bailey, Fort Scott Middle School
Third Place: Tyler Clark, St John High School
Junior Group Performances
First Place: Soren Lamb and Nyalia Lui, Topeka Collegiate
Second Place: Lauren Kremer, Rachel Moore, Kara Omo and Liz Shaub,
Maize Middle School
Third Place: Joyce Brennan, Colton Manley and Alessandra Politi, Topeka Collegiate
Junior Individual Documentaries
First Place: Kayla DuBois, Washburn Rural Middle School
Second Place: Elsa Goossen, Washburn Rural Middle School
Third Place: Zoey Hearn Feldman, Lawrence Central Junior High
Junior Group Documentaries
First Place: Phebe Myers, Calvert Pfannenstiel and Anrai Richards, Lawrence Central Junior High
Second Place: Liza Farr, Alyson Frydman and Zoe Limesand, Lawrence Central Junior High
Third Place: Tyler Cochran, Joseph Coonrod and Lucas Richards, Marlatt Elementary
Senior Division
Senior Papers
First Place: Elaine Davis, Seaman High School
Second Place: Julie Scherer, Wamego High School
Third Place: Thomas Henry, Bishop Seabury Academy
Senior Individual Exhibits
First Place: Stephanie Jian, Lawrence High School
Second Place: Patrick Hannah, Lawrence High School
Third Place: Nicole Thompson, Derby High School
Senior Group Exhibits
First Place: Dillon Artzer, LeAnn Meyer, Morgan Reed and Jarrod Simons, Seaman High School
Second Place: Courtney Boyd, Jessica Schoof and Kylie Shepard, Uniontown High School
Third Place: Jordan Boyd and Sarah Gillespie, Seaman High School
Senior Individual Performances
First Place: Timmia Hearn Feldman, Lawrence High School
Second Place: Rebekah DeMoss, Uniontown High School
Third Place: Katherine Steir, Lawrence High School
Senior Group Performances
First Place: Gage McKinnis, Melissa Query, Kaity Smith, Katie Spainhoward and Travis Stewart, Uniontown High School
Second Place: Alex Boyer and Jon Samp, Lawrence High School
Third Place: Ashley Henderson and Christopher Littrell, Seaman High School
Senior Individual Documentaries
First Place: Samuel Huneke, Lawrence High School
Second Place: Sarah Swearer, Hutchinson High School
Third Place: Hannah Frydman, Lawrence Free State High
Senior Group Documentaries
First Place: Sara Cortese, Hannah Lodwick and Rosemary O'Malley, Lawrence Free State High School
Second Place: Rachel Alexander and Krystal Buchanan, Seaman High School
Third Place: Amanda Akin and Ariele Brownfield, Seaman High School