DSHS student places second at national contest

Grant Gillum, a rising sophomore at Dripping Springs High School, won second place at the annual National History Day Contest earlier this month.

The competition was held at the University of Maryland from June 10–15. Gillum won the award for his individual website titled “Power for the People: How LBJ Tamed the Frontiers of Texas Hill Country Electrification.” He is a three-time state champion and also placed third at nationals in 2021.

The 2023 contest theme was “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Gillum’s entry explored the history of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative and how Lyndon B. Johnson struck a deal as a freshman congressman with then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt to bring power to rural areas west of Austin. Gillum’s work included archival research at the LBJ Presidential Library, for which Gillum won the Best Use of Texas Archival Collections award at the state contest in May.

Grant joined more than 500,000 students globally who completed projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. The top students from all 50 states, Washington D.C., United States territories and international schools were invited to compete in the National Contest. Gillum competed against students from all across the country, China, India, South Korea and Guam. More than 400 historians and education professionals served as judges for the students’ work.

Gillum’s sponsor is DSHS teacher Kibbie Jensen.