National History Day intern chosen

The Bucks County Historical Society (BCHS) has named Madeline Olesky this year’s Ruth Maxson National History Day intern.

Provided by a grant awarded by the Berger Family Foundation, the 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 assist with the National History Day Regional Competition held at Delaware Valley University.

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 this regional event, and the winners will move on to the state level competition. This regional contest is coordinated by staff and volunteers of the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle, operated by the Bucks County Historical Society. BCHS partners with Delaware Valley University for the in-person portion of the contest.

Olesky attends the Cooperstown Graduate Program for her master’s in museum studies. She previously attended the University of Florida and got a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a focus on neuroscience. She is passionate about museum education and the way museums can use programming to serve the public.

Olesky is excited to work on NHD because the program demonstrates the power of getting young people to think about their place in history, and the role of museums in encouraging that thinking.

This internship experience will provide Olesky with the opportunity to interact with teachers, students, judges, and museum staff to help produce a regional educational event, as part of this national program.

Throughout the internship, Olesky will work closely with the BCHS Education Coordinator Katy Pownall, and assist with the program’s database, provide support to the judges, teachers, students, and parents, assist in conducting training sessions, among other duties.

National History Day is an annual, nationwide academic enrichment program for students in grades 6-12 that encourages thoughtful historical research, project-based learning and a dose of friendly competition, as individuals or as a group, in one of five distinct categories: exhibits, papers, websites, documentary films and performances.

The 2024 National History Day regional competition award ceremony for Bucks and Montgomery Counties will be held on Saturday, March 16 at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown.

For more information about the Bucks Mont Regional NHD 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.