Performing On A National History Day Stage

When Sally Rifkin was deciding last October what her National History Day project was ultimately going to be, she initially viewed it as just another school project she would have to add to her already busy day.

The Chenery Middle School eighth grader certainly wasn't expecting eight months later it would propel her into the finals of the annual nationwide contest at College Park, Maryland at the University of Maryland.

"I was really surprise to be standing in front of the judges," said Rifkin recalling the two rounds reciting her well-researched lines in front of well-known historians and educators.

Rifkin joined more than half a million students who took part in the National History Day contest, which is a highly regarded academic program for elementary and secondary school students

Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites.

After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics' significance in history, students present their work in original papers, websites, exhibits, performances and documentaries.

And as a state winner, Rifkin was provided the chance to present her work before a panel of experts.

Unlike the more popular presentations with displays, websites and group efforts, Rifkin was before the judges alone.

One of the small number of students who was giving an individual performance, Rifkin, using a limited number of props, had to impress onto the experts the importance a single law had on the future of gender equality in the United States.

See Sally's presentation at the website below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/111512007560457622302/SallyRifkinNHD

Rifkin's topic was Title IX, the law enacted in 1972 prohibiting the exclusion or discrimination of a person on the basis of that person's sex.

But back in October as she was making up her mind, Rifkin's well-honored presentation nearly never came to be.

"I was stuck," said Rifkin, who lives on Hillcrest Road with her parents, Robert Rifkin and Jane Levin, and siblings, Emily, 17, and Julia, 12.

"I started off thinking I was going to do a presentation on Billie Jean King," said Rifkin of the tennis great of the 1960s and 1970s.

But Rifkin said those were more random thoughts, as she didn't really know how much she could say about King.

But sitting down with her teacher, Adam Zilcoski, they decided to broaden the theme, from a single athlete to the law that allowed an entire generation and all those that followed to benefit from equal treatment under the law.

"I could get involved with that topic because I could relate to it," said Rifkin, who plays soccer, basketball and volleyball.

"I really would be hurt and angry if I couldn't [play] those sports just because I was a woman," she said.

The next critical step for Rifkin was a strategic one. Rather than present a paper or join a group to act out her research, Rifkin decided on an individual performance.

"I find it fun to perform but I don't have a lot of time to do it. I thought I could both write and produce it, which would be great," said Rifkin.

And since so few people had declared their intentions to a solo performance, "I really thought I would have a greater chance at advancing in the contest," Rifkin admitted with a smile.

What followed was two months of basic research including seeking a large number of primary sources and the important secondary areas that would fill out her presentation. She also sought out and interviewed Bernice Sandler, whose fight in 1969 for her job at the University of Maryland and for other university-employed women around the country would become the impetus for Title IX.

With her research in, she scripted and drafted a first run of her presentation in December.

Even when Rifkin presented the final draft of her work to the judges at the nationals, her performance was always a work in progress.

"I would change lines, rearrange some other things, always improving it," she said.

Rifkin said that performing was never too stressful because she knew the facts she was using were solid and "I knew I could do it."

It was only after winning the regional and state finals and about a week before the nationals in June did Rifkin feel for the first time that the work she did was good enough to warrant an award.

Rifkin was not alone on her way to College Park. Seven fellow Chenery Middle School students joined her as state champions and National participants.

Anastasia Pulak, Sarah Messenger and Hallie Macauley gave a group performance, as did Melissa De Guglielmo and Maddy McLaughlin while Zach Boyce and Liam Cushman presented exhibits.

At the nationals, Rifkin passed through the two preliminary rounds, being one of two out of twelve presenters to move on.

In the end, Rifkin finished eighth in the country for individual presentation.

Rifkin said she wasn't at all disappointed with her standing, noting that Texas and Minnesota were "the powerhouses" of the groups.

What the experience had left on Rifkin is the effort required to receive acknowledgment by a group and in a national contest.

"You can't bring enough preparation to what you're doing," she said.

"And I found out that history can be fun," Rifkin added, with a smile.