Gulf Breeze shows strongly in recent county History Fair

Submitted photo Some of Gulf Breeze's brightest high school and middle school students participated in the Santa Rosa County History Fair on March 6 in Milton. Fourteen first- or second-place winners will advance to the state history fair May 7-9 in Tallahassee. Gulf Breeze High School will send 10 entries to the State History Fair at Tallahassee Community College from May 7-9.

Gulf Breeze Middle School will have four entries as well.

The top two projects in each category from the County Fair on Friday, March 6 qualified for the state competition.

GBHS had four first-place finishes and six second-place, with GBMS recording three first-place projects and one second-place.

In addition to a first-place finish in the Individual Documentary category, GBMS's Nick Bookout was also awarded The Santa Rosa Historical Society Special Award for his documentary of Tristan de Luna.

"I was very impressed with all the students who participated in history fair on Friday," said GBMS teacher coach Grace Freeman. "They were all so polite, good sports, and stayed calm under the pressure of the judges' questions.

Gulf Breeze students excelled at the Santa Rosa County History Fair. TOP, RIGHT: In the Senior Group Exhibit, Josh Suelflow, Cruz Lee and Steven Vernali won first place on their project about Ponce de Leon. Suelflow (left) recently met King Juan Carlos I of Spain as part of his reseach. "They had a great time socializing with one another as they waited to be judged and waited for the results. I am also very proud of these students because of their hard work and dedication."

The students at each school now have roughly two months to improve and perfect their projects for the state competition.

HISTORY FAIR COUNTY WINNERS

Senior Division: High School Individual Exhibit 1st Place: Kenji Dinelli 2nd Place: Julie Brown Group Exhibit 1st Place: Josh Suelflow, Cruz Lee and Steven Vernali 2nd Place: Omari Baines and Marc Sessa Individual Documentary 2nd Place: Kevin Rollins BOTTOM, RIGHT: Nick Bookout (center) of Gulf Breeze Middle School won The Santa Rosa Historical Society Special Award for his docurmentary of explorer Tristan de Luna. In January, Bookout won the GBMS National Geographic Bee. He will participate in the state contest on April 3 in Jacksonville. Group Documentary 2nd Place: Steven Crowhurst and Clayton Wiley Paper 1st Place: Morgan Thomas 2nd Place: Katie McIver Web site 1st Place: Melody Medwell and Caitlin Hartley 2nd Place: Cody Meadows, Ryan Mulroy and Jacob Harris Junior Division: Middle School Individual Exhibit 1st Place: Nick Gupta Group Exhibit 2nd Place: Anna Caldwell and Katarina Espensheid. Individual Documentary 1st Place: Nick Bookout Paper 1st Place: Parker McFarland