Student Group Presentation Leads Panel to Tears

What could lead a panel of community members to tears during a student group presentation?

With Lincoln Days merely days away, a panel of stakeholders from the community gathered to hear from a group of students showcasing their research on the history of Lincoln Days last week.

In order for students to gather the information needed, they visited the Lincoln Museum in downtown Hodgenville where Iris LaRue and Rob Thurman shared primary documents including brochures and newspaper articles helping the students gain understanding about the annual celebration.

After spending a day at the museum, students analyzed their research and created a website to showcase the history of Lincoln Days. Each group of students were assigned a section of the website to build out with their research. Then, the final task was to present their information to a panel of community members, demonstrating what they learned from the project.

As students presented, the panel witnessed the students not just reciting information, but actively displaying skills requested by the community in the LaRue County Learner Profile.

At the outset of the presentation, it was clear students were exercising their growth in being collaborative communicators. Yet, it was part of the entire process beginning first by listening and learning from LaRue and Thurman during their visit to the museum. Then it was evidenced further by the action of coordinating as a large group on the development of the website. Finally, on the day of presenting before the panel, students confidently and passionately delivered their presentation, proudly bringing what they learned to the forefront.

Another area of growth was creating engaged citizens by bringing the students to a deeper understanding of their community’s history. Students were able to connect to the significance of Hodgenville as Lincoln’s birthplace, seeing how, even though born from humble beginnings, he was able to affect positive change as president.

Perhaps most meaningful to the panel, the students were inspired to be Life-long Learners. Crucial to the continuation of important work like the Lincoln Museum is passing on an appreciation of the history from one generation to the next. Students, having taken part in this project (also known as defense of learning), were able to engage on a deeper level with the history of why Lincoln is celebrated in Hodgenville every year during the month of October.

In reaction to the presentation, several in the room were moved to tears from seeing the authentic joy and mastery of the subject matter students shared in their presentation. The presentation, like many aspects of a students educational journey, are about more than just that singular moment - it was a glimpse into the incredible adults the students are on their way to being as they prepare to launch from LaRue County Schools into their future.