Sam Yates

It is not often that students have the opportunity to become advertising professionals who promote the attractions in their own communities. However, Yates has sought to integrate the social studies curriculum of 50 eighth-graders at Rohanen Junior High School with the responsibilities of real-world professionals. His "Historic Richmond County" program will allow the students to create brochures and PowerPoint presentations for the Richmond County Historical Society. The program begins when the students meet with two local historians to gather the framework of the assignment and the local area. They will then conduct primary and secondary research about the county in order to create the multimedia items. The goal is to deepen the students' understanding of the political, economic, social and technological changes that have taken place for North Carolina's citizens. By the end of the project, the best brochures will be chosen for professional printing and distribution by the Historical Society. The PowerPoint presentations will be posted on the websites of both the Historical Society and the Richmond County Schools. Yates resides in Rockingham.