May 13, 2010 at 8:57 a.m.
Figure from history may help local student in her future education pursuits
Figure from history may help local student in her future education pursuits
To one Chisago Lakes high schooler, Clara Linehan, Betty Crocker represents historic innovations in advertising, while also being symbolic of advancements in contemporary domestic arts. In short: Betty Crocker rocks.
Linehan took this appreciation and turned it into a 10-minute song and dance overview, with Linehan as the lone character, Betty Crocker.
Linehan won a slot in state competition with this performance piece as part of Minnesota History Day competition May 1. Now she goes on to compete in National History Day, in June.
A 10th grader at Chisago Lakes High School, Linehan is no novice to History Day.
She won an Honorable Mention with her project in seventh grade, which is the grade level at which Chisago Lakes curriculum requires student participation.
Linehan enjoyed the whole experience so much she continued on voluntarily and took a third place in History Day in 8th grade, barely missing nationals (the highest two finalists place.)
She took ninth grade off. And, then Betty beckoned.
Linehan has a quirky affection for the ficticious female. She even stays connected with Crocker via Twitter and Facebook (yes, Betty's into social networking). While Linehan's friends are likely to be concerned about how to score tickets for the U2 tour this summer-- Linehan is working any connection to gain access to General Mills's corporate advertising archives.
Between now and June 13 Linehan will be putting finishing touches on her History Day performance, "tweaking it" up to nationals caliber, she said. She's keeping the skit light-hearted, adding, "All my other projects were serious material."
Linehan expects that competing in nationals at the University of Maryland-College Park will be a great experience, but she also has her eyes on what happens after and the college scholarship prizes.
Linehan hopes to go into a career that entails being front and center, maybe as a professor or lawyer. She said she first realized as a kid in 4H that she actually looked forward to the challenge, the excitement and pressure speaking and being in front of others.
There were 1,000 students in the statewide competition, held at the University of Minnesota. Of 16 categories, two finalists move on to compete in nationals from each category. Emma Weber, Highland Park Senior High, is the other finalist from Linehan's "individual performance" category.
Competitors also enter web pages, video, group performances, or research papers and displays on historic subjects.
The state finalists will travel together, 55 of them all total, as a team to nationals.
History Day is a program of the state Historical Society and U of M History Dept., with major funding provided by 3M, David M. Larson, Frank W. Veden Charitable Trust, Wells Fargo Foundation, Matt Entenza and Lois Quam.
The MN Historical Society and the university become "key partners in classroom achievement," according to a society news release on the program. Students make use of the society's archives, university libraries and other resources (At Mill City Museum, Linehan met someone who wrote Betty Crocker's responses to tips and inquiries from housewives. The woman spoke highly of that job and of General Mills).
This year's History Day theme was Innovation in History: Impact and Change.
Other topics represented at nationals will be: Southdale shopping center, The Kenny Method-polio rehab, Special Olympics, and changing American fundraising one dime at a dime, the March of Dimes.
You can help Linehan directly defray her travel expenses by donating to the MN Historical Society and put her name in the memo line to indicate who the donation goes toward. Send to 345 Kellogg Boulevard West, St. Paul, MN 55102. For general information also see www.mnhs.org/school/historyday.
Comments:
Commenting has been disabled for this item.