THREE RIVERS AREA — Laura Holmes, a spring graduate of Riverview High School, placed first in Senior High Individual Performance in the National History Day competition in Washington, D.C. By defeating 70 or so other top history students from across the country, Puerto Rico, and Guam, she won a gold medal and a $1,000 scholarship.
To prepare for her individual performance, Laura studied the life and influence of Alice Paul, who spent her life working for equal rights for women. Paul helped to get the 19th amendment to the Constitution passed in 1919. That amendment gave women the right to vote.
Laura wrote a script, "By Deeds, Not Words," about Paul's work as a suffragette and played the part of Alice Paul in the contest.
"It was like a mini-play with several scenes," Laura said in describing her winning performance. "I couldn't have done it without the help of all of my teachers."
Laura said that her Riverview history teacher, Robin Burge, introduced her to Paul's work.
"Mrs. Burge was my main supporter in preparing for the history contests," she said.
To get to the nationals, Laura had to place high in Arkansas regional and state contests. She placed second in Arkansas this year.
In the role of Laura's history teacher, Burge, who accompanied Laura to Washington, received $2,500.
"Kenneth Behring, a supporter of National History Day competition, gives $2,500 to the first place winners' teachers," Robin said. "Laura did a fantastic job of researching Alice Paul. She had performed as Eva Peron (the late Argentinean first lady and subject of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Evita) in history competition last year and had learned how to do research. And she has an exceptional voice. She may be Arkansas' only gold medalist."
In her four years at Riverview, Laura competed in history competition three years and in Future Business Leaders of America competition three years. She was also a member of Family and Career Community Leaders of America, editor of the school yearbook as a junior and senior, a cheerleader and a member of the school choir for three years. She made the all-state choir as an alto.
She is the daughter of Greg and Wanda Holmes of Judsonia. She is a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Judsonia and has been active in its youth program.
Laura is using her $1,000scholarship at Arkansas Tech University as a freshman this fall. She plans to study rehabilitation science at Tech. After finishing college,she wants to have a counseling center where she can give children a firm foundation for their lives, she said.
But before she gets very far along in college, she has another Alice Paul history performance to give. She and others who placed high in history competition on the state level this year are scheduled to perform at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Little Rock. They will present a History Day Showcase, and a big reception is planned.
Three Rivers, Pages 51, 52 on 08/27/2009