Riverside County Students Advance To National History Competition

From RCOE: “Taking a Stand in History” served as the theme for the National History Day- California, and also served as a description for the success of Riverside County students at the competition as the most number of students in Riverside County’s history of participation in the event advanced to the national competition.

At the May 6-7 event held in Rocklin, California, 104 students from Riverside County were among 1,428 students competing from among 29 counties. Eight projects with the theme “Taking a Stand in History”, were presented by 19 students in Riverside County and named champions in the junior and senior division. Two elementary division entries were named champions, but will not advance to national competition. The National History Day Competition will take place June 11-15, 2017, at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Categories include the following for junior division (grades 6-8) and senior division (grades 9-12): documentary, performance, exhibit, historical paper, and website. Students in grades 4-5 competed in a 2-D poster category.

The Riverside County National History Day-California competition was held locally on March 18, 2017, and featured a record number of participants for the fifth consecutive year—including 215 entries from 378 students enrolled in 15 districts and 58 schools. National History Day-California state champions are as follows (all advance to national competition unless otherwise noted):

Group Documentary – Junior Division

• Oveta Culp Hobby: Taking a Stand for Women's Rights as Director of the Women's Army Corps

• Sarah Lunetto, Abigail Noguera, Madison Purcell
• Villegas Middle School
• Alvord USD

Group Exhibit – Junior Division

• Alice Paul: The Silent Sentinel
• Sarah Alarcon, Paulina Arango, Makayla Martinez-Blackman, Melanie Ortiz
• Vista Verde Middle School
• Val Verde USD

Group Exhibit – Junior Division

• Ruby Bridges: Taking a Stand for Education
• Leslie Figueroa, Rosemary Gomes, Daniela Hernandez
• Sierra Middle School
• Riverside USD

Group Performance - Junior Division

• Establishing New Labor Laws and Health Regulations
• Shalie Fratt, Mia Hawat, Jadyn Roscelle Patos, Bella Rodriguez, Nicole Romero
• Vista Heights Middle School

Moreno Valley USD

Group Performance - Junior Division

• Photography Takes a Stand for the Children
• Afton Barney, Luke Barney
• Grace Preparatory School

Individual Documentary – Junior Division

It All Started With a Package: CARE Takes a Stand for Human Compassion

• Allison Bushong
• Amelia Earhart Middle School
• Riverside USD

Individual Exhibit – Junior Division

• Theodore Roosevelt's Stand for Conservation
• Lucas Dyal
• Lincoln Alternative Elementary School
• Corona-Norco USD

Historical Paper – Junior Division

Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Taking A Stand Against Sati

• Aisha Randhawa
• Garretson Elementary School
• Corona-Norco USD

Group Poster – Elementary Division

*** Irena Sendler: Taking a Stand for Human Life

• Emma Goodman, Sarah Goodman, Claire Todd, Tomas Rivera Elementary School, Riverside USD

Individual Poster – Elementary Division

• *** Candace Lightner: Taking a MADD Stand Against Drunk Driving
• Adryann Aguilar, Emerson Elementary School, Riverside USD

*** Elementary division entries do not advance to National History Day competition. Beyond the ten championship entries, five Riverside County projects were honored as runners-up, and two received honorable mention. In addition, special designation awards included:

California Historic Places Award

• (Sponsored by California Office of Historic Preservation and California Historical Society)
• UCLA vs. Angela Davis: Taking a Stand for Academic Freedom
• Jada Ramsey
• Vista Heights Middle School
• Moreno Valley USD

Catalina Pacheco Memorial Award (Sponsored by Special Friend of History Day)

• Establishing New Labor Laws and Health Regulations
• Shalie Fratt, Mia Hawat, Jadyn Roscelle Patos, Bella Rodriguez, Nicole Romero
• Vista Heights Middle School
• Moreno Valley USD
• Longevity Award

(For six consecutive years of National History Day-California participation)

• Haley Hocking
• Martin Luther King High School
• Riverside USD

Image Courtesy of RCOE