Rob Martin’s history students at Carroll County High School didn’t just learn about the past, they turned it into a living, breathing showcase. Through creativity, innovation, and passion, they transformed their research into eye-catching displays, personal stories, and hands-on presentations for the school’s first-ever history showcase.
The idea was for students to choose a topic from history that interested them and build a visual presentation to share with others. But what emerged was a vibrant collection of stories that spanned from the world wars to video games, dirt bikes, and even the life of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur.
For Matthew Blackburn, the showcase was a chance to honor his favorite artist, Tupac. “He was my favorite rapper, and I wanted to do something nobody had ever done before,” Matthew said, standing by his display, which included Tupac’s music playing from a speaker, a shirt representing the rapper, and artifacts from his life. “His lyrics hit different,” Matthew added. “They inspire me to be a better person and made me like history more.”
Micah Birchfield dug into World War II’s European theater, highlighting the advancements in technology that changed warfare. His timeline and photos included family members who served, like his great-grandfather Herbert Anderson and step-great-grandfather Paul Crawford. “I didn’t even know about Paul until a few days before the project,” Micah said. “It made it more personal.”
Ethan Foster wrestled with the history of WWE as a way to explore how pop culture shifts with the times. “Hulk Hogan was all about America during the Cold War, and John Cena came in with a more neighborly message, like Obama during his campaign,” Ethan explained. “It’s crazy how it connects to the bigger picture.”
Other students found inspiration in lifelong passions. Bernardo Gutierrez, a self-described “space nerd,” shared how space exploration impacts everyday life from iPhones to headphones. Meanwhile, Brayden Stewart traced the evolution of dirt bikes from military use in World War II to modern-day supercross competitions. “They’re 10 times better now,” Brayden said. “The competition, the bikes, everything’s grown.”
Carlos Sanchez explored video games, balancing the fun with the facts. “It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “Games can help you think faster or get addicted. It depends on the person.” His display showed the evolution from Pac-Man to modern titles, as well as the potential benefits and risks.
For many students, the freedom to choose their own topic was the key to their success. “If Martin had given me a topic, I don’t know if I would’ve put in the same effort,” Brayden admitted. Micah agreed, saying, “I’m glad he let us choose. It taught us a lot, and we got to teach others, too.”
Ethan summed it up best: “This should be a yearly thing. As long as you pick something you’re interested in, you can’t really go wrong.”