Twelve Win First at Fair, Advance to State

On December 20, 2024, Jasper County High School hosted its seventh annual Social Studies Fair. Students learned about civil liberties and civil rights according to standards designed by the state of Georgia. Specifically, they learned about the history of voting. Students worked in peer groups of one to three, according to state contest requirements. They chose an aspect of suffrage history to research and report. Some students concentrated on topics outside of voting rights, if they could justify a reason for doing so. Over an eight day period, they developed and reported on a research question, title, methodology, history, primary source, and conclusion.

One hundred fifty-seven students participated, producing 72 projects. Thirty-six faculty and staff from Jasper County High School, Washington Park Elementary School, and the Board of Education volunteered their time to judge projects. According to the state rubric, each project must be scored by two judges. Their scores were averaged together to determine the final score.

Twelve students won first place and scored high enough to progress to the region round of the state Social Studies Fair if they choose to do so. They include: Rachel McElheney, Eva Owensby, Allie Partain – “Jim Crow”; Addison Cole, Brooklyn Esposito, Helen Grantham – “Trail of Tears”; Eason Johnson, Chloe Miller, Jescere Israel-White – “Literacy Tests”; and Caitlyn Jones, Reagan Barner, and Gracie Dial – “The Imprisonment of Alice Paul.”

If qualifying students choose to do so, they will travel to the regional competition in February where they will compete to present at the state fair in April. The top 16 projects presented in the Northeast Region will travel to the state competition.

The fair was directed by Bonnie Garvin.