Union Local sixth-graders highlight famous Americans
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BELMONT -- Presidents, actors, musicians, athletes, moguls, authors and individuals from all walks of life made the list of people featured in the Union Local Sixth Grade Famous American Fair on Friday.
From Theodore Roosevelt to Lucille Ball, Mary Lou Retton, Mel Blanc and many, many more, the students learned all about their subjects and shared that knowledge through complex projects that took weeks to complete. Those projects were on display in the middle school gym, which was teeming with other students, parents and additional visitors from the community who turned out to see what the sixth-graders had achieved.
Costumed students were on hand with their table-top display boards to describe the research that led to their in-depth, typed reports on the famous person they chose to highlight. The projects were judged by a large panel of people from the community, including retired teachers, current school district officials and others. The judges used specific criteria provided by language arts teacher Sheryl Sonk to rank the projects. For example, each student had to create a timeline of their famous American's life that was a required component of their display board.
Judges included Lori Alderman, the Rev. Brian Bee, Shauna Benson, Marsha Borovich, Jill Clift, Norma Diab, Linda Ellis, Jim Ellis, Janet HIssrich, Pearl Homko, Bryley Jenewein, Rudy Meholovitch, Nancy Moore and Kathy Thompson.
Sonk said preparing for the event is a great learning opportunity for students, and it provides a chance for them to showcase their talents and skills for the public.
"It brings the community together," she said. "It brings the families into the school. And, it shows it's not always about what's on a state test. People can come here and see how much these kids learn along with their creativity.
"I'm always amazed at the ideas they come up with and the people they choose (to research)."
After the projects were judged, the winning students and their famous Americans were announced. They included:
Reagan Malona -- Pearl S. Buck
Grayson Swallie -- Desmond Doss
Dakota Taylor -- Thomas Edison
Josie Orr -- Dian Fossey
Johnny Hercules -- Lou Gehrig
Kara Hunt -- Joan Joyce
Madison Springer -- Lisa Leslie
Kingston Bendo -- George Lucas
Ania Osovich -- Stevie Nicks
Keigan Davis -- Frank Robinson
Emma Edwards -- Maria Tallchief
In addition to having their hard work recognized, winning students received a first-place medal and a $10 Dairy Queen gift card, courtesy of the Union Local PTO.