IUSD students made a strong showing at this year’s National History Day-California. In all, nine local student projects emerged as junior and senior division champions at the statewide history competition.
“These students have done more than study history; they’ve engaged with it in meaningful ways,” said IUSD Coordinator of History-Social Science, Content Literacy, and World Languages Blair Pador. “Through their presentations, they demonstrate a deep and thoughtful understanding of complex historical issues and how those issues continue to shape our world today.”
Every year, National History Day contests attract more than half a million students in grades four through 12 at the local, county, state and national levels. Working individually or in teams, participants thoroughly researched historical topics over several months before submitting original projects, including exhibits, papers, documentaries, websites, posters, performances and even podcasts.
This year’s contest awarded Junior and Senior Division 47 projects, under the theme “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”
Heading to the National Contest
After competing in a two-day county competition hosted by the Orange County Department of Education in March, 34 IUSD elementary, middle and high school projects moved forward to the state competition.
In addition to the nine that were crowned as champions at the State Competition, seven other projects earned runner-up or honorable mention recognitions.
About 1,500 students participated in California’s National History Day contest, which took place at Sacramento State from May 2 through May 4. More than 230 historians, educators and other professionals were on hand to interview students and evaluate their work.
Champions at the State Competition will advance to the NHD National Contest, which will take place June 8 through June 12 at the University of Maryland, College Park. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on the final day of the competition.
Here’s the list of CA contest champions from IUSD, as well as those who picked up special awards:
Junior Division
Group Documentary
“Ubuntu: Humanity”
Avanika Prasad, Chinmayee Srinivasan
Sierra Vista Middle
Historical Paper
“Upholding Human Rights: The Nuremberg Trials and the International Responsibility of Delivering Justice”
Abigail Han
Sierra Vista Middle School
Individual Performance
“Phone Booths to Smartphones: Rights and Responsibilities from Katz to the Digital Age”
Aria Yatavelli
Santiago Hills Elementary School
Group Podcast
“Mendez and Munemitsu: The Story Behind the Case”
Madilyn Butler, Sofia Reyes, YuQiao Shao
Rancho San Joaquin Middle School
Group Website
“The Thalidomide Tragedy: Rights of Consumers’ Healthcare and Responsibilities of the Manufacturer”
Christine Jeon, Joseph Featherstone
Sierra Vista Middle School
“Rights and Responsibilities: The Hetch Hetchy Dam and Its Environmental Impact”
Shawn Castrapel, Max Castrapel
Sierra Vista Middle School
Senior Division
Group Documentary
“Black and White and Red All Over: The Rights and Responsibilities of SAG-AFTRA”
Jongmin Chae, Luna Moon
Portola High School
Individual Podcast
“Korematsu vs. US: A Case of Shattered Rights and Ignored Responsibility That Will Live in Infamy”
Madeline Cheng
Northwood High School
Individual Website
“The Nuremberg Code: Shaping Human Rights and Responsibilities in Medical Research”
Anna Cao
Northwood High School
Special Awards
Bushong Family | Bushong Award for Social Justice Legacy
“How Cartoons Shaped the Narrative: Thomas Nast's Fight for Rights and Responsibilities”
Seojun Baek, Anish Pashikanti, William Lin
Sierra Vista Middle School
California Office of Historic Preservation and California Historical Society | California Historic Places
“Rights and Responsibilities: The Hetch Hetchy Dam and Its Environmental Impact”
Shawn Castrapel, Max Castrapel
Sierra Vista Middle School
Friend of California History Day | Environmental Justice in History
"The Right to the Coast: The California Coastal Commission and the State's Environmental Responsibilities"
Penelope Pan
Rancho San Joaquin Middle School
Friend of California History Day | European History
"One Flame Can Spark a Fire: The Match Girls' Strike of 1888"
Milani Doshi
Sierra Vista Middle School
Friend of California History Day | Individual in History
How Cartoons Shaped the Narrative: Thomas Nast's Fight for Rights and Responsibilities
Seojun Baek, Anish Pashikanti, William Lin
Sierra Vista Middle School
Friend of California History Day | Science and Technology in History
The Thalidomide Tragedy: Rights of Consumers’ Healthcare and Responsibilities of the Manufacturer
Christine Jeon, Joseph Featherstone
Sierra Vista Middle School
California Foundation for History Education | Labor History Prize
Black and White and Red All Over: The Rights and Responsibilities of SAG-AFTRA
Jongmin Chae, Luna Moon
Portola High School
Related: