The Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historians (AKA: The Union Hill Cemetery Guardians).
Meeting times: Fridays, 330-430pm, in room 561. For more info. on the Hopewell Jr. Historians, please read the information below, as well as the Williamson County Historical Commission link:

Williamson County Link about our club and UHC:

http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/Round_rock/Union_Hill_Cemetery_in_Williamson_County_Texas_page-2.html

...and the new year begins:

Here's a list of upcoming dates:

Saturday, Sept, 24 (9-12) Memorial Park/Chisholm Trail/round rock, meeting in front of CD Fulkes for this walking tour

Friday, Sept 30 (4-5pm), Club meeting at Union Hill Cemetery (it's located on 1460/AWGrimes where the Terra Vista Subdivision lets out at on the east entrance/exit.

Oct. 15, Up The Chisholm Trail Day in Georgetown (830am-6pm) at San Gabriel Park

Oct. 22 Terra Vista Elem. October Fest (11-330), meet at Terra Vista Elementary (permission slip coming ASAP) to volunteer.

Date Pending this Fall- UHC on a Saturday morning (9am-12pm) research, locate, draw up schematics, etc...for kiosk project and genealogical project





Tuesday/August 23, Students first day back to school for the 2011-12 School Year!

First club meeting will be on Friday/August 26. We will be meeting in Mr. Nugent's room that Friday, 330-430pm!


2011 Summer Vacation!!!!

Memorial Day services for those that can attend. We will be at beautiful Memorial Park to honor our military at the Submarine Memorial for the "Tolling of the Bells", 9am-12pm on Saturday, May 30.


BBTSHM, May 14 or 21 (TBD), the last fieldtrip for 2010-11 school year!


3rd Annual Union Hill Cemetery "Meet and Greet" on Friday, May 20, 330-6pm



Pioneer Day at Old Settlers Village (next to Dell Diamond) on May 7, 9am-1pm


Union Hill Cemetery field-trip on Apr. 30


The American Heroes event at Camp Mabry in Austin is on Saturday and Sunday ( April 16-17 ) from 8:00-4:00 both days.



TSHA Annual Meeting and History Fair in Sugarland, Texas Update:

The 73 Annual Texas State Historical Association's (TSHA) Jr. Historians Annual Meeting and History Fair for the 2010-11 school year held at the beautiful Marriott Towne Square hotel in Sugarland was a great success!

To begin with, the Hopewell Jr. Historians history club left from the school at 4 am Saturday (April 2), arriving at approx. 830am at our destination. The Canyon Vista Jr. Historians/Mr. Will Waghorne, as well as McNeil High School Jr. Historian, Sarah Patrick, attended with us as well. Everyone looked great in their new club shirts (they were not even sleepy!), and represented Hopewell Middle School and RRISD well. We appreciate the services of our bus driver, Bill.

Upon registration, all contestants presenting a project promptly left for their designated ball- rooms at the Marriott to set up and present their individual and joint projects. We were able to take some time to look at the various projects we would be competing against this year. The competition was really tough this year, and we knew we had our work cut out for us.

Afterward, while the judging was still going on, all Jr. Historian groups from across the state in attendance were bused over to the Houston Baptist University (HBU) to visit and learn about the treasures at that University. The museums located on the campus of HBU included the Museum of Southern History, the Museum of American Architecture and Decorative Arts and the Dunham Bible Museum. We highly recommend taking the time to visit these museums if you are ever in Houston looking for something great to do!

Afterward, we returned to the Marriott Towne Square hotel for the Awards Ceremony Luncheon, were we were treated to a great salad, steak and potatoes lunch (there was some other green stuff on the plates as well!), topped of with a raspberry cheesecake for desert!

We then had various distinguished speakers address those in attendance, which included Mr. Stephen Cure on the director of the TSHA Jr. Historians, Dr. Kent Calder of the TSHA and Dr. Michael Botson of Houston Community College!To open the awards ceremony, our club, represented by Hunter Lewin, Phillip Gonzalez, Michael Rodriguez and Robert McCandless brought in the colors and led the pledges to the U. S. and Texas flags. Dr. Botson had a riveting speech about the archives available for those on the Houston area and across the state housed in Houston!

Afterward, the Presentation of Awards occurred. Many clubs and their members placed in the various categories, and Danny Corbett of the Copperas Cove Jr. Historians received a standing ovation for his 35th year as the lone club sponsor of their club! Danny is certainly beloved by all Jr. Historians and his peers, deserving the recognition! In addition, their club took many top honors throughout the ceremony.

Oh yes...of special note regarding our club, the Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historians (Chapter 834), all gave their best effort too, and although not all placed, we have the following to report to you:

Individuals/Groups:

• Dave Fepke, 1st place/Individual Performance for "The History of Genetics"! (Mr. Peter's stayed with Dave, said you would not believe how wonderful Dave's presentation was, that he knows he stuff, really impressive!!!)

Note: Although the following club members did not place this year, they gave a valiant effort and we applaud them for giving their best:

• Michael Rodriguez and Hunter Lewin/Group Documentary; "Pastor Gurley, Veteran and Savior of Union Hill Cemetery
• Hunter Lewin/Indiv. Documentary; Fred Moya, USMC (Ret.): Vietnam
  
• Trevor Brown/Indiv. Documentary; Robert P. Hernandez: Vietnam Hero
• Marcus Hunter/Indiv. Exhibit; Native Americans in the Republic of Texas
  
• Robert McCandless/Indiv. Exhibit; USS Buckley
• Phillip Gonzalez/Indiv. Historical Paper; Three-Legged Willie: A True Texas Leader
• TSHA's 10 Years of Service Certificates: Mr. Charles Nugent and Mr. Ron Goins
• Dorman and Ruth Carolyn Winfrey Sponsors Award; Mr. Ron Goins

• 1st Place: Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historians for Outstanding Chapter Achievement

• 2nd Place: Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historians Chapter Project;

"The Texas Pledge of Allegiance"

The 2010 Presidential Volunteer Award notification for Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historians was read by Mr. Peters before those in attendance, and a standing ovation as well:

• Gold: Hunter Lewin, Phillip Gonzalez and Trevor Brown
• Silver: The Hopewell Jr. Historians (just missed gold by 68 hours)!
• Bronze: Club Sponsors: Mr. Nugent, Mr. Peters and Mr. Goins

Mr. Waghorne's Jr. Historians took the 1st Place for their Chapter Project, and Sarah Patrick took 1st Place/Indiv. Project: Round Rock's First Church! Congratulations to them as well!

We thank Mr. Tiner and Mr. London for chaperoning with us on this trip, thank you!

We missed Mr. Nugent at this year's event, as he was unable to attend due to personal circumstances.

We'd like to thank Mr. Cure and Mrs. Hopfer for putting on a wonderful history fair this year in Sugarland!


Sincerely,

Ron Goins, Charles Nugent and Alan Peters
Jr. Historian Sponsors

2010-11 Hopewell Jr. Historian's at the TSHA Annual Meeting and History Fair

Sugarland, Texas

Robert and various other Historians and Mr. Goins have continued to raise the flags for the school this 2010-11 school year!

Last fieldtrip: BBTSHM in May (Date/times TBD)

Pioneer Day, assist WM/Mrs. Ross in May (Date/times TBD)

Revisit UHC for more indepth research and for upgrades

Club Volunteering at American Heroes Weekend on April 16 and 17 at Camp Mabry, we'll be assisting at the Helicopters and Tanks!

TSHA Jr. Historians Annual Meeting and History Fair on Saturday/Apr. 2!

Spring Break: March 14-18 (No school)

Assist WM/Mrs. Ross for Archaeology Day on March 26, 9am-3pm (all day) at beautiful Berry Springs Park in Georgetown

Buffalo Soldiers to bring their program (all day) on March 8 to Hopewell.

Battle of the Alamo- March 6, 1836

March 3; Invoice submitted to pay TSHA for Annual Meeting/History Fair. We welcome, on the bus ride to and from Houston, Mr. Waghorne's Canyon Vista Jr. Historians, as well as At-Large Jr. Historian member from McNeil HS, Sarah Patrick, as they join us!

Texas Indep. Day- March 2, 1836

WCHC meeting on Thursday/March 10, 4pm (Sponsors will attend).

President Obama's Volunteer Award for the club (bronze level)!!!

The First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Michelle Obama, recognizes the Hopewell MS Jr. Historians (AKA: Union Hill Cemetery Guardians) as Preserve America Stewards!

Each meeting now committed to finishing projects for the TSHA Jr. Historians Annual Meeting and History Fair on Apr. 2 (Don't be late, as we leave at 4am sharp, should be back to Hopewell around 6pm).

UHC research work day (Saturday, Feb. 26; 8am-12pm)

TSHA write up on our club (on their facebook)

WCHC indepth research on UHC by Jr. Historian clubs (collaboration between Hopewell, Canyon Vista and McNeil Jr. Historians clubs)!


Happy New Year! Don't forget about the community meeting about UHC on Jan. 6/Thursday, 5-6pm(may run a little longer than 6pm)! We will meet at the Williamson Museum (WM) in Georgetown (on the west side of the square). Hope to see you there! We also will have our first meeting of the new year on Friday/Jan. 6, 330-430pm.

Note: The road construction continues on AW Grimes/FM 1460, moving every so closely to UHC, probably within 1/4 mile or less. If possible, please attend this important meeting at the WM this coming Thursday!!!



The "End Road Work" sign for widening AW Grimes/FM 1460 sign is just north of UHC, and the construction is just south of UHC...getting closer every day (documentation pics taken by Jr. Historian club sponsor R. Goins on Dec. 30, 2010).

The Williamson County Historical Commission's link to Union Hill Cemetery is as follows (and has our story and involvement at UHC, please read it if you have not!!!!):

http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/Round_rock/Union_Hill_Cemetery_in_Williamson_County_Texas.html


Please note that UHC information is shown in Cemetery.com at the link below:

UHC on Cemetery.com


Note to Club Members: There will be no Jr. Historians meeting next week on Friday, 12/17, have a great time off Jr. Historians for the Christmas holiday! Sponsors: Ron Goins, Charles Nugent and Alan Peters


Mrs. Moya's "One Night of Hope" will be delayed until the summer this year. Thinking ahead, those Historians that can attend are encouraged to do so...more details forth coming! Here are some pictures from last Fall:









Thank you Robert McCandless (club Historian) for providing the club with a long sought after picture from the American Heroes weekend last Spring! A big thank you as well to Mrs. Yvette Gonzalez (of the Adjunct General's Office at Camp Mabry and mother of club member Andres Soto) for working it out for the club to get a picture with Major General Jose S. Mayorga and Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo at the traveling Vietnam Wall, we know that you pulled some strings to make that happen, we are indebted!!




Jr. Historian Vice President Phillip Gonzales' "Project Toy Drive" will benefit local community children that are less fortunate during this holiday season!


Dec. 3; Pictures with Mrs. Moya for the "Soldiers Over There" program, please bring your letters, Tin Can cookies and Fleece Blankets for shipping so we can support our troops!





Field trip to Union Hill Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 19, 4-5pm! Parent(s) need to provide transportation. Special guests will be community members and UHC advocates, Pastor John Gurley and Mickie Ross of the Williamson Museum!

Fall Fundraiser with Down Home Ranch, Oct. 15-29.



YLI and Project Vote Student Mock Elections the last week on October, Jr. Historians will count the school votes and submit them to the Youth Leadership Initiative in Virginia and to the Texas Secretary of State's office!





Field Trip to the Chisholm Trail and the "round rock". Special speakers at Memorial Park will be the Central Texas Submarine Veterans, Sept. 25, 9-12. Parents should provide transportation to the park and back.

Chisholm Trail Event @ San Gabriel Park in Georgetown (Sept. 18).

2010-11 Jr. Historian Officers: Hunter Lewin (President), Phillip Gonzales (Vice Pres.), Robert McCandless (Historian) and Michael Rodriguez (Secretary); Sponsors: Charles Nugent, Alan Peters and Ron Goins








A Sad Farewell, a New Beginning: It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Mr. Will Waghorne has moved from Hopewell Middle School to Canyon Vista Middle School, our loss is their gain. Yet, with great hope for Will's future at the Canyon, we wish him well as he has already started the Canyon Vista Jr. Historians!

Jr. Historians Club meets on Friday, 3:35-4:30, in room 561.

Sponsors: Charles Nugent, Ron Goins, and Alan Peters



Open to all Hopewell M.S. students, the Jr. Historians of Texas is a club associated with the National History Club and the Texas State Historical Association. Field trips and projects focus on Texas and local history. Through a partnership with the Williamson County Historical Museum, students are encouraged to learn about their local history and take steps to preserve it. During field trips, Jr. Historians research and visit historical sites throughout the state of Texas, in addition to participating in various community service projects throughout the year. Each Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historian club member also receives a club ID card as part of their club membership.

Our club has received the TSHA Outstanding Chapter Achievement Award, as well as top honors for Chapter Project and numerous individual awards like the 2010 Texas Leadership Award (Phillip Gonzalez). In 2010, we were named a Top 10 History Club in the United States by the National History Club. At the 2010 TSHA History Fair and Meeting in Austin, the club won First Runner-up for our website Round Rock: Crossroads of History, and the club won Grand Prize in 2009 with a project on Union Hill cemetery with assistance from the Texas Historical Commission, the RIP Guardian Program, and the Williamson County Historical Museum.

Visit roundrocktours.co.nr - Round Rock: Crossroads of History, a website with virtual walking tours of local sites.

Visit our Union Hill cemetery project page here or check out the documentary below.

See the award-winning documentary from our 2009 Chapter Project below:

Community Service and In-school Activities:

July 2010 - Jr. Historian Phillip Gonzalez attended the Education in Action "Lone Star Leadership Academy" in Austin based on his Lone Star Leadership in History award (for his paper on A. W. Grimes) at the 2010 TSHA Jr. Historians Annual Meeting 2010. The RRISD School Board also recognized Phillip on June 17 at the board meeting at Round Rock High.


With the Hopewell "Keeping it Real" club, we are supporting a school charity drive for the victims of the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes. All collected money will be given to the local Red Cross, which will be designated for the International Relief for Haiti and Chile.

April 17th, 2010 - Vietnam Wall Travelling Memorial at Camp Mabry in Austin

January 16th, 2010 - MLK Community Service Project

Students made blankets for Family Eldercare, assisted a food drive, and participated in the 22nd Annual Round Rock Martin Luther King, Jr march from CD Fulkes Middle School to the Baca Center.



February 19th, 2010 - One Night of Hope" Homeless Veterans Benefit

This year, we teamed up with Mrs. Moya, our school attendance clerk, to volunteer at the "One Night of Hope" benefit extravaganza on February 19 to bring awareness and real assistance to the plight of our Central Texas Homeless Veterans (which will be a covered in the Chapter Spotlight of the Spring newsletter from the National History Club).The event was a success, raising over $5,000.00, as well as many donated items. The facility that donated the space and equipment to bring this event to the community was Shoreline Church (the total value of their donation of a venue site/equipment and filming was valued at $14,800.00). Our club donated 5 large boxes of various items on the suggested donation list. Our members escorted various VIPs to their seats, took pictures at the event and assisted in whatever capacity was required. Visit the website here for more information.



November 12, 2009 - Troop Care Packages for Veterans' Day, RRISD Press Release:

As Hopewell Middle School and Stony Point High School students celebrate the holidays this year, they can celebrate knowing a soldier deployed overseas is a little warmer due to their efforts. As part of “Christmas Over There,” started by Hopewell Middle School Attendance Clerk Tonie Moya students and parents donated fleece blankets, cookies and letters to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“This makes the seventh year I have sent packages to Iraq and Afghanistan to some of the students’ family members serving,” Moya said. “This year we have a brother and two fathers serving – Sgt. Clifford Lindell has a daughter who attends Hopewell, PFC Brian Parrish is a former Hopewell student and has a brother currently at Hopewell and PFC Wadlington has a son here.”
Moya started the mission at the start of the Second Gulf War in 2003 and said as part of the mission, she has her Attendance Aides participate as part of their final grade of the semester by writing a letter to a soldier telling the soldier what they are learning in school. In addition to the Attendance Aides, Moya received help from the Hopewell Jr. Historians Club who donated time, holiday letters, and blankets. Moya said she was asked this year by a parent if some of the students from Stony Point could help with the effort as part of their service hours and she was happy to have the help from the students and parents of both school communities.
“We have received so many wonderful blankets and homemade cookies from students and staff along with parents from Hopewell,” Moya said. “I even have a parent who has offered to help me mail everything as the boxes can be pricey to send.”
Students packaged boxes before leaving for Thanksgiving break as Moya needed to get the packages in the mail by Dec. 1 in order for them to arrive in Iraq and Afghanistan by Dec. 25.

Below: Jr. Historians Kayla Ann Walters and Danny Cabrera assist Mrs. Tonie Moya

Union Hill Cemetery Community Service Project:

Union Hill Cemetery Rescue efforts prior to our involvement - THC Cemetery Preservation Program


Union Hill Project featured on the Williamson County Historical Commission Website

Second Annual Union Hill Cemetery Meet and Greet at Hopewell Middle School - Friday, May 24th, 2010

Once again, the Jr. Historians hosted community members, local and state historical societies, and school district administrators for the Union Hill Meet and Greet. Speakers included Ridgeview Middle School principal (descendant of Civil War Veteran Nathan Brinkley) Dr. Holly Galloway, WCHM partner Mickie Ross, new RIP coordinator Casey Gallagher, and Hopewell principal Anthony Watson.

May 25, 2010 - Union Hill 2nd Annual Meet and Greet featured in the Round Rock Leader


December 16, 2009 - Union Hill Project featured in the Williamson County Sun News


November 24, 2009 - Union Hill Cemetery Historic Designation Ceremony RRISD Press Release:

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) will host a dedication ceremony to commemorate Union Hill Cemetery being designated as a Historic Texas Cemetery on Friday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. The cemetery, located at FM 1460 and CR 186, was chosen for distinction due in part to the hard work of the Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historians.

The distinction means the cemetery has been legally recorded through the THC’s Historic Texas Cemetery Program, an important step in ensuring its preservation. This designation is reserved for cemeteries that are at least 50 years old and documented through the Historic Texas Cemeteries process to record their historic association and significance. Speakers for the event will include Anne Shelton (RIP Program/Texas Historical Commission), Chris Dyer (Williamson Museum), Mike Quick (Williamson County Historical Commission), Mike Hurewitz (Round Rock ISD Service Learning), Anthony Watson (Principal, Hopewell Middle School), Pastor John Gurley (community member who maintains UHC) and the Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historian sponsors, club president and vice president.

“This designation is a tool that will increase public awareness of these important cultural resources,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the THC. “Knowledge and education are among the best ways to guarantee the preservation of a historic cemetery.” Cemeteries hold valuable historic information and they are often the last reminders of early settlements’ historical events, religious beliefs, lifestyles and genealogy. While the Historic Texas Cemetery designation encourages cemetery preservation, it cannot guarantee that a historic cemetery will avoid destruction. Threats to historic cemeteries include urban expansion and development, vandalism, grazing animals and long-term deterioration from weather and uncontrolled vegetation.

"It is refreshing to see this group of kids and sponsors (i.e. Hopewell Middle School Jr. Historians) so dedicated to preserving their community's history,” Chris Dyer of the Williamson County Historical Commission said. “This is a great project and we hope that other schools in Williamson County will be encouraged to follow their example."











Living History Project records oral histories on Martin Luther King Day - February 19th, 2009

"In just a few hours, Barack Obama becomes the first African-American man to take the Presidential Oath of Office. His inauguration, coming a day after the holiday paying tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, brings forth imagery that many people never thought they would see in their lifetimes.
Lydia Crafts reports that the link between Dr. King and President-elect Obama was especially strong for a group in Round Rock." - KUT Public Radio Feature





Joseph Robinson talks to kids at Hopewell (Photo by KUT)









Hopewell Veterans' Day Honor Ceremony - The Jr. Historians provided the veterans of Hopewell Middle School lapel pins to recognize their service to our country. November 11th, 2008






Buffalo Soldiers for Interactive Civil War Presentation. February 8th, 2010



The Buffalo Soldiers are sponsored by the Hopewell Jr. Historians club and visit the school annually . Dressed in Civil War era uniforms, several members of the Camp Mabry Buffalo Soldiers, Company A - 9th Calvary visit the school to educate students about the history of the unit. They also show the students their equipment, tell how they lived and what they did, answer student questions about life in the 1800s on the frontier as a Buffalo Soldier, and put on a living history demonstration of the Buffalo Soldiers.
African Americans have fought in military conflicts since colonial days. However, the Buffalo Soldiers, comprised of former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War soldiers, were the first to serve during peacetime, after the end of military campaigns. Throughout the era of the Indian Wars, approximately twenty percent of the U.S. Cavalry troopers were Black. The combat prowess, bravery, tenaciousness, and looks on the battlefield, inspired the Indians to call them "Buffalo Soldiers." Many Indians believe the name symbolized the Native American's respect for the Buffalo Soldiers' bravery and valor.
– From RRISD Press Release Nov. 13th, 2008





Project VOTE/Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) - Annual school-wide Presidential/State Mock Election

Up the Chisolm Trail Event in Georgetown and Archeology Day - Annual Service Learning volunteer effort with the Williamson Museum

Jr. Historians raise the school colors each Monday morning during the school year.

Our club petitioned for new US and Texas flags from the school administration, and received them in the fall of 2007. We donated our Texas flag to Texas troops stationed in Iraq thanks to members of the Hopewell family, Doreen Kennedy and her son, former Hopewell Hornet PFC Stephen C. Kennedy.


Feb. 11th, 2007,Judge Ken Anderson, 277th District Court, Williamson County, Texas lectured students on historical writing and his research of Dan Moody. Students received copies of his biography, Nolan Ryan: Texas Fastball to Cooperstown.


Texas Quiz Show school-wide competition and Regional Matches were held in April. Thanks to the 2009 Hopewell representatives: Hugo Chavez, Jessica Reyes, Udit Bhatt, Ashleigh Hawkins, Nick Tibbits, and Cody Moore.