The Box That Made the World Smaller

Patrick Lawhon, a student at Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, won first place at National History Day in June, 2010. Patrick competed with a dramatic performance, “The Box That Made the World Smaller." The ten-minute play examined the evolution of the standardized shipping container, which over the past 50 years has reduced shipping costs and transformed the global economy. In his performance, Patrick portrays a number of different people including union leader, Harry Bridges. Patrick competed in the first round of the contest in March 2010 at the Truman Library. He went on to finish first place in the state at the University of Missouri-Columbia and then became the national champion at the National History Day finals at the University of Maryland College Park. In July 2010, he was honored at a reception at the Truman Library and received a standing ovation when he reprised his performance in the museum auditorium.