The History Department of Western Kentucky University sponsors annually a History Contest for High School and Junior High (Middle) School students.  Our April 1, 2005, contest will be the thirty-second.
    The History Contest consists of both objective and essay examinations. Objective examinations will be administered in three areas: (1) Junior High American History, from colonial exploration through 1865, (2) Senior High American History, from 1865 to the present, and (3) World History, which will be comprehensive.  The general essays for the Junior High and Senior High examinations will come from the periods described above; the general essay examination for World History will emphasize the period after 1789.
    A student may enter only one contest since tests for all three areas will be conducted at the same time.  First place winners in Senior High American History and World History will win Regents Scholarships,  essentially a tuition scholarships to Western Kentucky University. First place winner in Junior High American History will win a $500 scholarship to Western Kentucky University.
    First and second place winners in each category will also receive engraved plaques, and in order to give appropriate recognition to a larger number of good students, silver medals are presented to the top 5 percent of contestants and bronze medals to the next 5 percent in each contest. In addition, certificates of achievement will be forwarded to those students who score in the next highest 10 percent on the objective exam.
    Each year the competition has increased, as has the number of participants. We suggest that you screen your entries by entering only your top students. In order to finalize our plans, may we please hear from you by March 7.  We would appreciate your mentioning the Annual WKU History Contest to other history teachers who may not be aware of its existence. We will, of course, be glad to answer any questions which you may have. Please plan to be with us for these contests and start preparing your best students for them.

8:00 - 9:15 - Registration at the Downing University Center

    You are requested to park your cars in the University Parking Structure. After unloading buses, please park them in the Services Supply Lot. Upon arrival on campus, students should go to the Downing Center Theater. Teachers should register their students for one (1) of the following tests: Junior High American history; Senior High American history; or World History. Guides will lead participants from Downing Theater to appropriate test locations. Teachers and sponsors may relax and visit in Downing University Center Room 226 while the student testing is in progress. Refreshments will be provided.

9:45 - 10:25 - Objective Test

    The objective test will consist of multiple choice questions designed especially for Junior High and Senior High students. The Junior High American history test will cover the period to 1865; the Senior High American test will be confined to the period since 1865. The World History test will be comprehensive.

10:25 - 10:40 - Break

10:45 - 11:20 - Essay Test

    Students will be asked to answer one essay question. The Junior High essay question will emphasize American history before 1865; the Senior High American History question will cover American history since 1865; the World history essay will stress some aspect of European history since 1789. Essay questions will be sufficiently broad to allow participants to display their knowledge in a particular area.

11:30 - 1:00 - Break - Lunch

    Participants will be free during this period to eat lunch in the Downing Center Cafeteria and to visit areas of the campus they may be of interest.

1:15 - 2:30 - Presentation of Awards in Downing University Theater

STUDENTS SHOULD BRING TWO SHARPENED No. 2 PENCILS. THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT WILL FURNISH PAPER FOR THE ESSAY TESTS.

Name of Students                          Sr. Hi. Am. Hist.          Jr. Hi. Am. Hist.         World Hist. 1_________________________________________________________________________ 2_________________________________________________________________________ 3_________________________________________________________________________ 4_________________________________________________________________________
5_________________________________________________________________________ 6_________________________________________________________________________ 7_________________________________________________________________________ 8_________________________________________________________________________ 9_________________________________________________________________________ 10________________________________________________________________________ 11________________________________________________________________________ 12________________________________________________________________________ 13________________________________________________________________________ 14________________________________________________________________________ 15________________________________________________________________________ 16________________________________________________________________________ 17________________________________________________________________________ 18________________________________________________________________________ 19________________________________________________________________________ 20________________________________________________________________________ 21________________________________________________________________________ 22________________________________________________________________________ 23________________________________________________________________________ 24________________________________________________________________________ 25________________________________________________________________________ 26________________________________________________________________________ 27________________________________________________________________________ 28________________________________________________________________________ 29________________________________________________________________________ 30________________________________________________________________________

TEACHER: _________________________________________________________________

SCHOOL NAME: ___________________________________________________________

SCHOOL ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________

CITY: ____________________________________ STATE: _________ ZIP: ____________

Phone No. (____)_______________ E-Mail address: ________________________________

FAX No. ____________________

    If additional space is needed, please use the back of this sheet. Be sure to indicate the student's name and whether he/she is entering the World History, Senior High American, or Junior High American History Contest. PLEASE MAIL, E-MAIL, OR FAX BY MARCH 7, 2005, TO: