Articles Published About San Juan County

This blog initially was used to archive articles written by Janet Wilcox and published by Neil and Becky Joslin in the Blue Mountain Panorama. In 2019 it was revived and includes articles printed in the San Juan Record, as well as other venues. By republishing digitally, more photographs can be added, and comments and corrections can be quickly upgraded. A blog is a more permanent historical location and is searchable. Thank you for reading my articles in the newspaper, as well as on the Internet. If you have ideas for stories, please contact me at 42janetkw@gmail.com

Friday, June 28, 2024

San Juan High: A Tradition of History Fair Winners

By Janet Wilcox "Those who don't understand and appreciate history are bound to repeat it." Santana
Students from San Juan High School have consistently done well at the State History Fair for decades, with many qualifying for Nationals in Washington DC. The first ever to do so was Tonya Morris from White Mesa who won Utah's Grand prize expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. June 12-16, 1988.
It was an eye-opening experience for this Ute student and her advisor to travel to such a gigantic city and compete with students representing the whole USA. Tonya’s paper on the Posey War placed 1st in Utah and her teachers, principal, and friends were thrilled for her. Participation in such things as history and science fairs require "Authentic Assessment" where research and documentation are useful to others. "We had the most awesome time on that trip and only got lost 2 or 3 times! Since 1988 dozens of other Blanding and Monticello students (taught by Judy Barton and others) have competed on a national level."
Most recently Saylor Dandy, daughter of Jim and Rena Dandy, qualified for the National History Fair and competed in Washington DC this summer. Her presentation was a display showing experiences of Native American children as they sought to get an education. She interviewed her grandparents: Edward Whitethorne and Sally Johnson and read notebooks that her grandparents, Jim and Betty Dandy kept, related to boarding schools. A documentary and recorded stories of other friends and relatives who attended boarding schools in the Four Corners area were also included in her research. To qualify for National's, students are interviewed by 2-3 judges at each level of competition (local, regional, and state). They must be knowlegeable and exact in the information they share with judges and utilize a wide variety of sources. Saylor’s teacher/advisor at SJHS is Jesse Grover and he attended the National History fair as well as Saylor's parents, Jim and Rena.
SJHS WINNERS FROM THE PAST San Juan High's winners in 1987 for historical papers were: 1st Shelley Singer, 2nd Tonya Morris, 3rd Julie Martineau with Superior ratings going to Steve Black, Kaelin Perkins, LeAnn Lovell, LeeAnn Bowring, Daryl Guymon, Kacee Shumway, Gary Lyman, Katrina Shumway, Lorin Kartchner, Deniane Gutke, Annette Carroll, Kim Hurst, Tyler Palmer, Missy Knight, Jenifer Kurtz, Janell Guymon, and Thelma Tate.
Region Winners 1988 --Historical papers: 1st Shelley Singer, 2nd Tonya Morris, 3rd Julie Martineau; Superior ratings: Steve Black, Kaelin Perkins, LeAnn Lovell LeeAnn Bowring, Daryl Guymon, Kacee Shumway, Gary Lyman, Katrina Shumway Smith, Lorin Kartchner & Deniane Gutke, Annette Carroll, Kim Hurst, Tyler Palmer, Missy Knight, Jenifer Kurtz, Janell Guymon, and Thelma Tate.
SJHS WINNERS FROM THE PAST San Juan High's winners in 1987 for historical papers were: 1st Shelley Singer, 2nd Tonya Morris, 3rd Julie Martineau with Superior ratings going to Steve Black, Kaelin Perkins, LeAnn Lovell, LeeAnn Bowring, Daryl Guymon, Kacee Shumway, Gary Lyman, Katrina Shumway, Lorin Kartchner, Deniane Gutke, Annette Carroll, Kim Hurst, Tyler Palmer, Missy Knight, Jenifer Kurtz, Janell Guymon, and Thelma Tate.
Region Winners 1988 --Historical papers: 1st Shelley Singer, 2nd Tonya Morris, 3rd Julie Martineau; Superior ratings: Steve Black, Kaelin Perkins, LeAnn Lovell LeeAnn Bowring, Daryl Guymon, Kacee Shumway, Gary Lyman, Katrina Shumway Smith, Lorin Kartchner & Deniane Gutke, Annette Carroll, Kim Hurst, Tyler Palmer, Missy Knight, Jenifer Kurtz, Janell Guymon, and Thelma Tate.
STUDENTS WIN TOP PRIZE AT UTAH HISTORY FAIR 1992
2004 Navajo students Lynnette Chee, Reed Sampson and Cyndee Stash of San Juan High were the grand prize winners in the Utah History Fair. They utilized their cultural background to develop a project on Navajo rug-weaving, and won $500. They also won 1st place and $75 in the Brigham Young University's Charles Redd Center contest for the best historical project dealing with Western history. Reed was inspired to use a book format after a book fell down from a shelf and hit him in the head! They created a display with large pages that turned Each page told part of the history of Navajo weaving. Their project also won $75 for best Western Research Exhibit and they won an expense paid trip to Washington D.C. Other local winners in 2004 were Revarae Bitsinnie and Carissa Nelson.
1995:One of the biggest groups from San Juan to qualify for the National History Fair included: L-R: Christina Guymon, Jeanine Christensen, Mindy Redd, Zeb Crofts, Valena Lake and Landry Redd. Platt Nielson and Kyle Laws also qualified. They won numerous awards at each level of competition. Several parents traveled with them to Washington DC along with their advisor.
1997
: Kristina Long placed 1st in individual performance at Region with her story of the Long Walk entitled "Peaches"; 2nd place went to Tyler Jack and his performance related to the CCC Camp in Blanding. Kami Christiansen wrote her research paper on the role that her grandfather County Commissioner, Calvin Black played in the Sagebrush Rebellion. "From Sagebrush Rebellion to Environmental Hellion" was the title. She won 1st place for local research from the Charles Redd Center and a $100 cash prize. She also took 2nd in historical papers in the state. She and her mother went to Washington D.C. in June 1997 to compete. She used over 20 primary sources in her research.
2009: Winners in the Charles Redd competition were Gina Guymon, San Juan. Teachers given Merit Awards included Judy Busk, Richfield High; Janet Wilcox, San Juan High; and James Walker, Grand Middle.
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