BUCKFIELD – Four eighth grade students from Buckfield Middle School will represent Maine at the National History Competition on June 14 at the University of Maryland.

Brittani Salsbury, Gabrielle Vallee, Brianna Lueck and Jade Kelly won the Maine history competition March 26 at the University of Maine at Augusta.

They placed first with their 10-minute skit titled Ben Franklin – Ideal American Citizen.

Besides the skit, the girls were required to submit a process paper and an annotated bibliography of resources used. The project involved months of in-depth research using primary and secondary sources, the creation of a five-foot timeline, book project presentations, persuasive essays and more.

Sixty percent of the team’s score was based on historical accuracy, 20 percent on presentation and 20 percent on the significance of the topic in history.

“I’m so excited because this is the first time students from SAD 39 have competed. It’s such a wonderful way to combine research, history, reading, culture, technology, creativity and presentation skills all in one meaningful project. It’s an educator’s dream,” says their teacher Linda Andrews.

Anyone who would like to make a donation toward the girls’ trip should send it to: History Club, Buckfield Middle School, 160 Morrill St., Buckfield, ME 04220.