The Bucks County Historical Society (BCHS) announces a new educational internship grant awarded by the Berger Family Foundation, to support the coordination of the annual National History Day (NHD) regional competition for Bucks and Montgomery counties.
The new Ruth Maxson National History Day Internship, named in honor of a beloved Bucks County Historical Society volunteer of nearly 50 years, supports the work of a promising university student who will join the BCHS team to expand their working knowledge of the education field and support the museum’s education department in the planning of the Bucks Mont NHD Regional Competition.
The National History Day Regional Competition enables Bucks and Montgomery County high school and middle school students to take history beyond the classroom. Hundreds of students from Bucks and Montgomery County schools participate in the regional event, and winners will move on to the state level competition. The regional contest is facilitated by staff and volunteers of the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle, operated by the Bucks County Historical Society.
The inaugural Ruth Maxson National History Day intern, Anna Durning, hails from Hatfield, and is currently a junior at Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts in Philadelphia.
Durning is a history major with a minor in English, and works at Temple University’s Charles Library. Outside of her undergraduate coursework, she takes part in Temple University’s Community Orchestra and Irish Dance Team.
The internship experience provides Durning with the opportunity to interact with teachers, students, judges and museum staff, and help produce a regional educational event, as part of a national program.
Throughout the internship, Durning will work closely with the BCHS director of education and community services, and assist with the program’s database, provide support to the judges, teachers, students and parents, and assist in conducting training sessions, among other duties. The role also supports outreach and promotion efforts and the recruitment of volunteer judges.
The 2023 National History Day regional competition award ceremony for Bucks and Montgomery counties will be held on Saturday, March 18 at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown.
For information about the regional competition, visit mercermuseum.org/NHD.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
