Photo by Jenny Kirk Holy Redeemer School fifth-graders dressed up and presented information as part of the annual Biographical Museum. Pictured from left are: Austin Dunn as astronaut John Glenn, a student visitor, and Halle Roos as Prince.

MARSHALL — The Holy Redeemer School fifth-grade Biographical Museum was enhanced further this year by the addition of an interactive feature. Twenty-seven fifth-graders brought an array of historical figures to life when museum visitors pushed a mock button. “I think that the audience and the kids coming through are enjoying the new interactive button that we’ve added to the display this year,” fifth- and sixth-grade social studies teacher Keri Cole said. “Before, they were just wax museum poses. Now, they push a button and the kids give a small mini-speech about who they are and what they’re important for. It’s become an interactive piece.” Cole noted that the unique school project began in 2000. “It started as a parade,” she said. “Then it transformed into the wax museum, which has now become the interactive museum.” Cole collaborated with Michelle Appel, the fifth- and sixth-grade language arts teacher at HRS. Appel’s suggestion sparked the new interactive addition. “When I have seen this the last couple of years, I thought it would be a nice element to add to it,” Appel said. “I’ve also seen it done in other schools, where they’ve used it. It also covers one of the standards, a speaking standard, that the kids have to do. It’s just kind of fun, too.” Courtesy of Halle Roos, Prince Rogers Nelson came to life in the HRS auditorium. “I picked Prince because he inspired many people with his music,” Roos said. “He also fought for his rights.” Roos purchased the Prince outfit online, noting that she really enjoyed the overall project. “The hardest part was probably writing the paper because there’s so much about him,” she said. “It was supposed to be five paragraphs, but mine turned into six.” One of the main stipulations for the project is to select someone who is deceased. Prince, a Minnesota native, died on April 21, 2016. Like Prince, Mary Kay Ash, who died in 2001, was portrayed for the first time this year. “I chose Mary Kay Ash because my mom, she works for the Mary Kay cosmetics company, and I just wanted to learn more about her and because she has a great story,” Mary Kay look-a-like Ella Cole said. “She has inspired many people and it’s just really cool to think she did all this.” Along with cosmetics, Cole also had a pink car and a pink telephone on display. “We kind of encouraged picking new historical figures,” Appel said. “I said, ‘You’ve seen this a lot over the years, try to find someone new if possible.’ You get tired of seeing the same person over and over. It’s nice to see some variety.” Also new this year were: American artist Georgia O’Keeffe (portrayed by Amelia Clarin), British statesman Winston Churchill (Preston Grosklags), female baseball player Jackie Mitchell (Skyla Crowley) and actor Alan Rickman (Allan Lane), whose “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” character was Severus Snape. Twins Noah and Elizabeth Coudron paired up to portray former President Ronald and First Lady Nancy Reagan. “That was really clever,” Keri Cole said. Cole added that she teaches the social studies part of the project, while Appel teaches the language and writing portion of it. And though the students are not judged by visitors this year, the projects are graded. “She did the research and paper and I did the posters,” Cole said. “It’s a joint project between the two classes.” Colton Appel chose Louis Armstrong. “I just love playing the trumpet,” Appel said. Appel, who plays trumpet in the fifth-grade band, said he enjoyed learning more Armstrong. “He was also a singer and a comedian,” he said. “I enjoyed doing the project.” Fifth-grader Austin Dunn depicted the life of John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. “He was interesting,” Dunn said. “I found out that he was a Marine Corps pilot and a U.S. senator and was also in space. He was the oldest astronaut in space.” Glenn became the obvious choice for Dunn when he realized one of the family’s Halloween costumes was of an astronaut. “My dad brought him up one night when we were talking about the Biographical Museum, so I just decided to do it because I already had all the stuff for it,” Dunn said. Aaron Neuman brought another new figure — Korczak Ziolkowski — to life. “He helped carve Crazy Horse (Memorial) and Mount Rushmore,” Neuman said. “I never knew that.” Neuman said he selected Ziolkowski because he was fascinated with the Black Hills, South Dakota, memorials. “I’ve been there quite a few times, so it made me really want to do it because I know a lot about it,” Neuman said. Ziolkowski was a sculpting assistant for Gutzon Borglum’s Mount Rushmore project until an argument got him fired. He was then approached by several Lakota chiefs about designing and sculpting a monument honoring Crazy Horse. In 1948, the first blast was made and the memorial was dedicated to the Native American people. Though he died in 1982, his children continue the effort. Today — 70 years after it began — Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest mountain carving in progress. This year’s Museum display also included professional baseball players Babe Ruth (Brady Brandl) and Ted Williams (Nathan Panka), American industrialist J. Paul Getty (Lily Verkindren), Italian astronomer/physicist/ engineer/philosopher/mathematician Galileo (Tate Condezo) and American Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson (Michael Naber) and Ben Franklin (Dawson Chappuis). Dylan Haney portrayed LEGO creator Ole Kirk Christiansen, while Brayden Thooft was painter Terry Redlin. Eliza Holmgren brought American chef Julia Child to life, while Lydia Weverka took on the role of Queen Elizabeth I. “At first, I couldn’t find anyone,” Weverka said. “Then, Michael was looking through books, trying to find his person, and told me Queen Elizabeth was open. It was a really fun project.” Various other historical figures also caught the eye of visitors, including Anne Frank (portrayed by Hannah Bauer), Lucille Ball (Mary Lanoue), Judy Garland (Rayne Speidel), Steve Irwin (Hudson Dieken) and the Red Baron (Jacob Roberts). Aidan Mattison did his project on two-time Olympic champion Ashton Eaton, realizing too late that his selection was still very much alive. Overall, Michelle Appel thought the experience went well. “I’ve heard some really positive comments about the interactive part of it, with the kids talking, so it’s been really good,” she said.