Federal President's history competition: Wigbertschule victorious with cinematic endeavor

Wigbertschule Hünfeld Wins First Prize in Hessen Regional Round of Federal President's History Competition

The student group from the Wigbertschule Hünfeld in Hessen has triumphed in the regional round of the Federal President's History Competition with their film project about the historical site Point Alpha.

The competition, initiated 52 years ago by Federal President Gustav Heinemann and Kurt A. Körber, aims to awaken children and young people's interest in their own history, promote independence, and strengthen a sense of responsibility. This year, over 500 entries from young people in Hessen were received, making it the most successful round in 30 years with 2,289 entries nationwide.

The film, created over several weeks by Mia Matussek, Ralf Zeitz, Carl Eddi Petter, Emil Dris, and Valerius Handwerk from the Geschichts-Arbeitsgemeinschaft (AG) of the Wigbertschule, stages historical sites and lets them speak for themselves. The medial processing of the drone and camera recordings was particularly interesting to the AG members.

The 30-minute film includes museum visits, film recordings with cameras and a drone, and conversations with contemporary witnesses. It was shown at the Wiesbaden state parliament, where the delegation from the Zuse town received a certificate and a prize of 500 euros from state parliament president Astrid Wallmann and Minister of Education Armin Schwarz.

State parliament president Astrid Wallmann emphasized that the competition encourages young people to delve deeper into specific historical topics. She also highlighted the importance of asking new questions about history to receive new answers or see known events in a new light.

The Wigbertschule Hünfeld's victory was celebrated with a delicious Italian lunch before the visit to the state parliament and with a reception in the foyer of the state parliament after the ceremony. The school, along with 249 other state winners across Germany, now has the chance to win one of the 50 federal prizes, with the first five prize winners to be received by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in November at Schloss Bellevue in Berlin.

In addition to the award for the Wigbertschule Hünfeld, a further 19 support 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 AG was the only visitor group on a cold but sunny January Monday at the memorial site Point Alpha, which is usually closed on Mondays. By doing so, young people not only learn about the past but also gain insights that can be applied to the present. The competition encourages openness, curiosity, and research enthusiasm among young people, which are the basis for both individual and societal knowledge gain.

Federal President's history competition: Wigbertschule victorious with cinematic endeavor