Submitted by Lynn Pietak (lpietak@edwards-pitman.com)
It was my great pleasure to attend the Georgia Social Studies Fair 2012 and to give awards sponsored by the Society for Georgia Archaeology (SGA) and the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists (GCPA). The event was held at Clayton State University, a beautiful campus in full early spring bloom from all the warm weather we have been having here in north Georgia. Students from all around the state compete each year for prizes awarded by the Georgia Leadership Association for the Social Studies and other organizations including the National Archives at Atlanta, Friends of the Georgia Archives and History, and the New Georgia Encyclopedia. The SGA and GCPA are pleased to give awards at this event because it supports our mission “to unite all persons interested in the archaeology of Georgia and to work actively to preserve, study and interpret Georgia’s historic and prehistoric remains.”
In order to get to the State Fair, these students have already won prizes at the local and regional levels. This type of effort requires the hard work and support of students, teachers, and parents alike and should be strongly applauded and encouraged by all. The prize winners this year utilized multiple lines of evidence in their approach to their research: archival, archaeological, historical and informant interviews. Of significance to me, and I’m sure to other members of SGA and GCPA and interested parties, was that a family visit to two of our important historic resources, Andersonville National Historic Site, and Fort Pulaski National Monument, both administered by the National Park Service, prompted these students to pursue their projects.
The winner of the Society for Georgia Archaeology’s award of $50 and a copy of Frontiers in the Soil is fifth-grader John Hendricks of Jasper Elementary in Pickens County for his project entitled Misery at Andersonville: What Was it Like to be a Prisoner of War at Andersonville Prison During the Civil War?.
The winner of the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists award of $50 and a copy of Frontiers in the Soil is eighth-grader Connor Hynek of Herschel Jones Middle School in Paulding County, for his project, Fort Pulaski: A Turning Point.
My daughter Natasha and I really enjoyed attending the fair for the second year in a row and realize how much effort it takes to put together an event of this size. Thanks to the organizers and congratulations to our winners!!
Order your own copy of Frontiers in the Soil using ordering information online here.
Posted online on Saturday, March 31st, 2012