User Posts : The Southwest Voice

Bakersfield's Junior Miss Being her Best Self

Bakersfield's Junior Miss, Bethany Feil, has had a great year living the Junior Miss motto "Be Your Best Self". Confidence is often assumed when you watch a performer, but sometimes the ability to perform masks other areas of insecurity. Although Bethany feels very comfortable on the stage as a dancer she quickly looses that bravado when asked to speak. The Junior Miss experience has helped her overcome her fear and allowed her to enter college interviews with quiet confidence.

If you had asked Bethany a year ago if she could imagine herself speaking in front of a crowd or getting through a personal interview comfortably, she would have told you "no way". One of the benefits of the Junior Miss program is the opportunity the girls are given to grow in such areas. After the initial shock of receiving the title "Bakersfield's Junior Miss" sunk in, Bethany looked forward to the State competition in Rohnert Park. She knew how much she enjoyed getting acquainted with the girls participating in the local program - State would be four times as much fun!

The emphasis on Be Your Best Self really came alive at the State program. The girls were constantly reminded that what got them to that level was their individuality. They were challenged to stay true to who they are and encourage others to do the same. 10 days of long rehearsals, late nights and lots of choreography to memorize provides plenty of opportunities to encourage one another.

Bethany was inspired by many girls in the Junior Miss Scholarship program starting with Luz Kumpel, Bakersfield's Junior Miss before her. All the recipients of the "Spirit of Junior Miss" award at the State level epitomized the motto "Be Your Best Self". Bethany hopes to share their enthusiasm with this year's local participants.

As her year comes to a close, it is Bethany's hope that any girl wishing to participate in this wonderful scholarship program will do so as much for the possibility of growing as an individual as for any award they might receive. Who knows, they might just be the next Bakersfield's Junior Miss!

Join Bethany for the Annual Bakersfield Junior Miss program on Friday, April 18th at Standard Middle School, 7 p.m. For ticket sales and information contact program director Shannon Caputo at bakersfieldjm@bak.rr.com

Tevis sending two teams to State History Day!

Tevis Junior High 8th graders Mikayla Feil, MacKenzie Hooper and Daniel McDonald will be representing Tevis at the State History Day competition in Sacramento, May 8 - 11.

History Day is an extra curricular history competition where participants research a topic as it relates to the annual theme. The theme this year is Conflict and Compromise in History. Coincidentally, both teams chose to study the Internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.

MacKenzie Hooper is competing in the "Individual Exhibit" category. She will present her research on a display board explaining about Japanese Americans from Bakersfield. Each team is required to submit an annotated bibliography accompanied by a 500 word process paper describing their project.

Mikayla Feil and Daniel McDonald chose to compete in the "Group Performance" category. Their research is presented in a 10 minute drama where they question the constitutionality of interning American citizens. Each team must adhere to specific rules for their category. All participants must answer questions from the judges about their topic and from information listed in their bibliography.

Both teams had the opportunity to visit the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. Daniel was impressed by the frame of a barracks brought in from Heart Mountain, Wyoming. MacKenzie was overwhelmed by the stack of luggage representing the "only what you can carry" rule going into the camps. Mikayla enjoyed talking to their docent, Frank Kikuchi, about his life at Manzanar. She was saddened to learn that he never received his high school diploma since he was sent to the camps a short time before he was to graduate. Talking to individuals who have lived the history they are studying is an exciting part of the History Day experience.

At the state level there is a "finals" round in each category. Two winners from each category will represent California at the National Competition in Washington DC in June, 2008.

We congratulate these two teams and wish them luck at the State Competition!

Tevis Junior High's Mikayla Feil finishes in top six at State History Day

State History Day is an extra-curricular research competition in which kids in fourth to 12^th grade are challenged to research a topic as it relates to the annual theme. This year’s theme was: "Triumph and Tragedy in History." The event took place April 26 to 29 in Long Beach.

There were 24 individual performers in the Junior Performance (grades six to eight) category. They arrived at the state competition with props, bibliographies for the judges and high hopes of making it to the finals or even nationals! Only six from each category would be chosen for finals where they would perform again for the judges.

Mikayla Feil made it to the state finals! Congratulations Mikayla! Top six in the state!

Mikayla’s individual performance examined the life of Holocaust survivor Alicia Jurman. Alicia tragically lost all of her family as a result of Hitler’s attempt to kill all Jews; however she triumphantly survived and tells her story to school children as often as possible. She told Mikayla in a phone interview, “You are a winner for studying this topic.”

Students usually begin their History Day research with topics that interest them. As the research continues, the topic gets narrowed and more focused.

There are many ways to present History Day research: performance, documentary, exhibit, Web site, historical paper and poster, all of which can be done individually or as a group. As students research, they learn how to create an annotated bibliography. The students are judged on their annotated bibliography and 500-word essay describing their project, the category presentation itself, and a question/answer time where the judges can determine the extent of the students knowledge on their topic. The judging aspect gives the participants valuable feedback on improving their project.

History Day participants learn high level research skills, how to interview, how to work hard, and best of all they walk away with a great sense of accomplishment.

Sound like fun? Next year's theme is: "Conflict and Compromise in History." Ask your teacher about History Day!