March 25, 2005

Regional history fair set for April 2

by Paula Davenport

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Pioneer life, the Civil Rights movement and Lincoln lore are among countless topics students in grades six through 12 may explore at the upcoming Southern Illinois Regional History Fair.

The fair opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 2, in the SIU Arena on Southern Illinois University's Carbondale campus.

It's a showcase for youngsters' museum-style displays, media presentations, live performances and research papers. Organizers expect 700 participants from schools throughout Illinois' 33 downstate counties.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and TV crews are welcome to cover the fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2, in the SIU Arena. For background information while on location, look for SIUC History Department Chair Marjorie Morgan and the fair's chief organizer Michael C. Batinski, professor of history.

Judging will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Visitors may tour the exhibition from noon to 1:30 p.m. The awards presentation will begin at 2 p.m.

Sponsors include the SIUC History Department, in the College of Liberal Arts, with support from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the Honeywell Foundation.

Regional winners will advance to the state competition in Springfield in May. Statewide winners will compete this summer at the National History Day contest at the University of Maryland in College Park.

-30-