Huntington’s Fantastic Four Takes Fourth in State History Finals
Four Huntington High School students turned in an inspired dramatic performance at the National History Day state finals in the enchanted Village of Cooperstown. The group had earlier advanced through local and regional competition, with the Long Island finals being held on the Hofstra University campus.
Juniors Caitlin Etri, Rebecca Silverman, Colleen Teubner and Kirsten Freiman finished fourth in the senior group performance category for “Jane Goodall: A Voice in the Wilderness.” This marks the second consecutive year that these same four students placed among the New York’s best.
"This experience has benefited us in so many ways,” Ms. Etri said on behalf of the group. “Not only has it given us a deeper appreciation for history, as well as historical research, it has given us the opportunity to fine-tune our theatrical skills by creating and performing an original script.”
Michael Schwendemann, a Huntington High School English teacher and drama club traveled to Cooperstown to coach the four young women and help fine tune their performance. “I thought they were wonderful,” he said. “Unfortunately, the judges were looking for something else as far as the story. It’s similar to art: What one person looks at and thinks is beautiful another person doesn’t.”
“Making the state finals two years in a row has simply been icing on the cake,” Ms. Etri said. “We're so happy that we could share this year's Cooperstown experience with not only our parents, but with ‘Schwendy’ and his wife as well, who supported us all the way."
All four young ladies are members of the drama club and participate in the club’s productions each year. They said the trip to Cooperstown, complete with a stay in a small town America bed and breakfast and stroll around a picture-perfect village was enjoyable.
Mr. Schwendemann also volunteered his time to serve as a coach for other Huntington students who entered the dramatic performance category in the local competition held at the high school. This year, National History Day participants developed projects focused on the national theme, “The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies.”
“It was a great experience,” Ms. Freiman said.
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office