Federal President's Contest Victory: Wigbertschule Takes Top Spot with Film Endeavor
Wigbertschule Wins First Prize in Federal President's History Competition
In a historic victory, the History Working Group (Geschichts-AG) of the Wigbertschule in Hünfeld has been awarded the first prize at the History Competition of the Federal President in Hessen. This year's competition, which marked its 52nd edition, was the most successful in 30 years with a staggering 2,289 entries.
The competition, initiated by then-Federal President Gustav Heinemann and Hamburg-based benefactor Kurt A. Körber, aims to spark children and young people's interest in their own history, foster independence, and strengthen a sense of responsibility. This year's winning film contribution, titled "A Border Strip Tells" ("Eine Grenzstreifen erzählt"), was created by Mia Matussek, Ralf Zeitz, Carl Eddi Petter, Emil Dris, and Valerius Handwerk.
The film tells the story of the Fischerhof, the Birkenkreuz, the border fences, the Wiesenfelder tower, and the Weg der Hoffnung, all significant historical landmarks from the German-German division era. The medial processing of the drone and camera recordings, museum visits, and conversations with contemporary witnesses were particularly interesting to the AG members.
The winning team visited the memorial site Point Alpha on a cold but sunny Monday in January. As the only visitor group that day, they were able to have a concentrated working session and an individual dialogue with the terrain and the exhibition objects of the museum.
In addition to the award for the Wigbertschule, a further 18 state and 19 promotion prizes were awarded in Hesse. The Landgraf-Ludwigs-Gymnasium in Gießen was named the Best School in the State, and the group prize went to the Margarete-Steiff-Schule in Frankfurt.
The 250 state winners nationwide, including the Wigbertschule in Hünfeld, now have a chance to win one of the 50 federal prizes. The first five winners will be received by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Schloss Bellevue in Berlin in November.
State Parliament President Astrid Wallmann encouraged young people to deal more intensively with specific historical topics to gain insights that can be transferred to the present. She noted that historical learning has to do with the future, democracy, and basic values. The board of the Point Alpha Foundation, with Benedikt Stock and Philipp Metzler, congratulated the Wigbertschule Hünfeld on their great success.
The submissions included 175 research and presentations, films, and essays about the German-German division, post-war history, and developments in various epochs in the regions. The award ceremony took place in the Wiesbaden state parliament, where the delegation from the Zuse town received a certificate and a prize of 500 euros.
Before the ceremony, the state victory was celebrated with a delicious Italian lunch, followed by a visit to the state parliament, and a reception in the foyer of the state parliament after the ceremony. The Wigbertschule's historic achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its students and teachers and a shining example of the power of history education in fostering curiosity, independence, and responsibility among young people.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
