Our HTLA group of National History Day finalists met (virtually) to hear the results of the statewide competition. National History Day is a competition that engages students in the active process of historicization—choosing a topic based on an annual theme (this year was Breaking Barriers in History), researching like crazy, and formulating an argument through various platforms. This year we had students submit documentaries, exhibits, websites, and performances. Our students have been working on these projects since the first semester and their work is truly unprecedented for their ages. I cannot stress this enough, these students have put in so much mental and physical effort; yes, even during quarantine.
Students competed at the Los Angeles county level, then some individuals and groups moved on to the statewide competition, and I am happy to report, that one group will now be advancing to the national competition for the first time in HTLA’s history! The results from last night’s award ceremony are:
STATE CHAMPION (advancing to Nationals): Macallan F and Olivia R
Kon’nichiwa Culture, Sayonara Separation: Breaking Down Japanese American Barriers to Create the Arts and Crafts Movement
HONORABLE MENTION AND SPECIAL AWARD WINNER FOR MARITIME HISTORY: Keira C, Jessica L, Francesca C, and Nicole R
Blowing off Steam: How the Steam Engine Broke Transportation Barriers of the 1800s
STATE FINALIST: Alex B, Mesrop M, Minas M, Jonathan G
The Auburn-Haired Amazon: Carmelita Torres’s Stand Against the Looming Barriers of Racial Injustice at the US-Mexico Border
We are so proud of the immense amount of work all of our HTLA historians have put into their projects. Congratulations again to all NHD students, and especially to last night’s winners. More to come as we watch Macallan and Olivia compete at the national level!