Tucson Student to Represent Arizona in “America’s 400th Anniversary” Commemoration

(Tucson, AZ) Governor Janet Napolitano presented home schooler Colin Elsberry with a citation of special recognition and an official Arizona flag during a stop in Tucson yesterday. Colin will carry the flag during ceremonies this week at “Jamestown Live!,” one of the Signature Events of America’s 400th Anniversary commemoration in Jamestown, Virginia.

Colin, 11, was selected to be Arizona’s Student Ambassador because of the extraordinary effort in original research and outstanding scholarship his entry in National History Day 2006 demonstrated. Winds of Change: Paolo Soleri at Arcosanti won first place in the junior individual documentary category at the state NHD competition this spring and advanced to the national competition at the University of Maryland in June.

Just one student from each state was chosen to receive a Jamestown Award. The awards are to honor the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in 1607 so this is the only year they will be made. Recipients and their teachers won a weeklong trip to Jamestown that culminates in a live interactive webcast on November 9.

Colin will be blogging from Virginia. His posts from this trip as well as earlier posts from the Arizona students who competed nationally at NHD are at www.azstarnet.com/special/historyday. Registration for the “Jamestown Live!” webcast, available free of charge for fourth through eleventh grade students, is at www.jamestownjourney.org.

National History Day is a yearlong academic program that develops original research abilities and critical thinking skills. Participants compete in regional and state contests before advancing to the national competition. National History Day is open to all students in Arizona in grades four through twelve.