Carolyn Lipka, a rising senior at High School North, received the gold medal at the National History Day championships at the University of Maryland College Park Campus in Washington, DC in June. She had won the New Jersey State championship at William Paterson University in May. Lipka received a $5,000 scholarship from the History Channel for winning the national title.
Lipka was entered in the Senior Individual Documentary category with “Legislation by Johnson: Man and Moment.” She first competed on Tuesday, June 16, and was then named one of the 12 finalists in the nation.
“I am thrilled to receive the honor of such a prestigious award, especially considering the amazing quality of the competition,” says Lipka. “My project was an extensive commitment, not only by myself, but also the wonderful people who gave of their time and expertise, including Lucy Baines Johnson, Attorney General Katzenbach, Helen Thomas, Dr. Robert Dallek, and the entire staff at the LBJ Library. I am also grateful to the History Channel for sponsoring the event, and to my competitors, whose work has inspired me to try to improve every year.”
Her documentary, the result of a year’s work, included extensive archival research in manuscript libraries, including the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. Lipka interviewed experts and witnesses to history including Lucy Baines Johnson, former Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, long-time dean of the White House press corps Helen Thomas, and prize-winning author and LBJ biographer, Robert Dallek. Her annotated bibliography for the project spanned 19 single-spaced pages.
Lipka, the founder of High School North’s History Day Club, has been president for the past three years. She has been the New Jersey state champion four times in the past five years, and last year won the national silver medal at the National Championships.
Visit www.nhd.org for more information.
