The future of Iowa and the United States is safe.

That is, if the compelling displays, documentary, and one-act plays are all portrayed with passion and poise by the leaders of tomorrow — 14 Marshalltown Community School District (MCSD) students — are any indication.

The impetus was the “History on Second Tuesday” event Tuesday night at the B.A. Niblock MCSD Orpheum Welcome Center in Marshalltown.

It was co-sponsored by the Historical Society of Marshall County (HSMC) and Marshalltown Community School District (MCSD).

Using a theme of “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History” to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the theme asks students to explore dramatic changes (revolution), responses to those changes (reaction) and efforts to improve society (reform) according to the National History Day website.

Accordingly, the students presented one documentary, three one-act plays and two displays implementing the theme.

MCSD educators Susan Hankins Fritzell (MHS) and Ann Jackson (Miller Middle School) told the audience that students pick a theme, extensively research and prepare their presentations on their own.

It was good practice. A total of 17 MCSD students qualified for state at a district competition earlier this year.

Next, the students will present their work to judges at the state NHS competition at Iowa State University in Ames on April 27.

Judges will then select a distinct few for national competition in June at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.

Leading off the event were middle school students Theo Lewis and Colin Potter. They presented “The Wings of Change: The Wright Brothers Revolutionary Aircraft and Reactions and Reforms That Followed.”

The duo creatively portrayed Orville and Wilbur Wright of aviation fame.

The Wrights were brothers from Dayton, Ohio who were in the newspaper and bicycle businesses before embarking on their ultimately successful quest to fly a primitive aircraft at Kitty Hawk, N.C.

Their inventiveness, persistence and talent eventually spawned a multi-billion-dollar industry which enhanced transportation internationally – all points explored and effectively explained by Lewis and Potter.

Later, the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton would bear the Wright Brothers’ name.

“The Granger Movement – How a Farmer’s Revolution in the Midwest Sparked Nationwide Reformation,” was a one-act play presented by MHS juniors Parker Christen, Colby Cross, Preston Johnson, Jacob Seberger and Luke Stalzer.

The quintet convincingly demonstrated how the efforts of Oliver Kelley, a Minnesota native, led to efforts to form a Grange in Newton.

The students re-enacted how Kelley inspired Andrew Failor of Newton in 1867 to organize fellow farmers in a the-fight against the then-powerful Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. As a result, in a landmark case the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Granger’s lawsuit accessing more favorable shipping rates for their products.

The Granger organization still exists lobbying for farmers from their headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“Death and DuPont: How One Lawyer’s Revolutionary Lawsuit Reformed How People Trust Big Corporations,” was also a one-act play.

MHS students Josue Corral Coronado, Victor Guitterez Cruz, Connor Holman and Jaden Schwartz portrayed how the powerful DuPont corporation was successfully sued for $167 million in damages with awards to residents impacted.

The students effectively demonstrated how DuPont had buried containers of toxic chemical byproducts from one its area manufacturing plants. It was of its once-popular Teflon-brand non-stick cookware.

The toxic chemicals leached into nearby waterways of Parkersburg and Washington, W.V. causing fatalities among livestock and sickening residents. Attorney Robert Bilott spearheaded the 20-year fight against DuPont. The event was dramatized in the 2019 film “Dark Waters” starring Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo, who also served as the film’s producer.

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: How Hip-Hop Gave Voice to the Silenced” – was a riveting documentary presented by MHS ninth grade student Londyn Senethavysouk.

It examined how the severely blighted and economically depressed conditions of the Bronx, a New York City borough, coupled with racism and discrimination — gave rise to an engrossing form of music and poetry which has evolved into a billion-dollar industry.

Through effective use of news reports, photos, film and more, Senethavysouk showed how hip-hop became part of America’s consciousness as exemplified by hip-hop artists Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance in 2025 in Los Angeles.

Tuesday night’s presentation marked the fourth consecutive year students presented before family, fellow students, history aficionados, MCSD faculty, HSMC board members and area residents.

“We were impressed with the students’ ability to effectively present these important events from our nation’s history and their impact which resonates today,” said HSMC president Michelle Rosburrough of Marshalltown. “And we were pleased with the attendance of approximately 30 residents who braved threatening weather to attend.”

For more information, contact HSMC at 641-752-6664 or info@hsmcia.org For more information about NHD, visit https://nhd.org.