Proud of Akila's @NationalHistory research on Dr. Wiley. Exploring @US_FDA w/ FDA Historian Dr. Junod. #wwprsd #njed pic.twitter.com/1i8BCYxX2O
— R. McLelland-Crawley (@Bec_Chirps) June 17, 2015
National History Day is an educational program. Students conduct yearlong research on a topic related to a selected theme. The research process is grueling and intense. Students who opt to enrich their studies with NHD take on college-level research by uncovering and analyzing primary and secondary sources. They visit museums, libraries, archives, and interview experts in the field. Any student who tackles this task is a winner by building a skill set as a researcher. Some are lucky enough to advance and have more people interview them about the process and their findings, but all NHD students should be proud that they are becoming more information literate researchers through the process.
Our student Akila is a member of the NJ delegation at the National Competition in Maryland this week. For two years she has focused her research on one of her passions - pure foods. In addition to planning CMS Fresh for Food Day, she has spent two years researching the laws and regulations of food in America. She has designed fantastic websites to teach others about the pure foods movement and was given the opportunity to defend her research at Nationals. The PRISM room cannot be more proud of Akila and all of her persistence. She truly exemplifies the passion of a world-class researcher who keeps pushing herself to learn more, reflect more, and do more. The award Akila wears humbly for all to see is her ability to teach others about Dr. Wiley and the pure foods movement. Congratulations Akila for embracing the struggle!
