Virginia Museum of History & Culture Announces Virginia’s Results from the National History Day National Contest 

Fifty-seven Virginia students from across the state competed virtually against nearly 3,000 students nationwide

Virginia History Day is the state affiliate of the National History Day program. Similar to a science fair, but for history, the National History Day Contest was founded in 1974 to inspire students to conduct original historical research. Since its creation, the contest has grown into an international competition with more than half-a-million participants and thousands of dollars in scholarship awards and prizes annually. “Creating a project for the National History Day Contest is challenging. It requires hard work and dedication. But, it also provides great reward,” said Dr. Cathy Gorn, National History Day® Executive Director. “The skills of conducting research and recognizing credible sources are crucial to increasing civic engagement in young people.”

Placing 3rd in the Senior Individual Performance category was Sara Johnson, an 11th grader from Liberty High in Bedford, VA, for her project entitled, “Shenandoah National Park: Debate and Diplomacy Leads to Displacement.” In her moving performance, Sara explores the often-overlooked experience of the thousands of people who were forced to abandon their mountain homes to make way for the creation of Shenandoah National Park. For her achievement, Sara will receive a $250 cash award.

Two Virginia students placed in the top ten of their respective categories. This includes 6th grader Sabina Hagen from Haycock Elementary in Fairfax, VA, who placed 5th in the Junior Paper category for her project entitled, “The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965: Debate and Diplomacy Over the National Origins Quota.” Sabina’s family’s experience with immigration inspired her to examine the law that serves as the foundation for our modern immigration system. In addition, Sabina won Virginia’s Junior Division Outstanding Affiliate Entry Award in recognition of her high-quality scholarship. Placing 5th in the Junior Individual Website category was 8th grader Julienne Lim, from Mary G. Porter Traditional in Woodbridge, VA, for her project entitled, “The President’s Own: Diplomacy One Note at a Time.” Julienne’s website explores the history of the United States Marine Band and its important role in representing the country musically during diplomatic receptions. Julienne also won the White House Historical Association’s White House History special award, a $1,000 prize, for studying a topic related to presidential history.

In addition to the above students, several members of Virginia’s delegation received recognition by winning special awards. This includes 11th graders Tanishi Dasgupta, Niyathi Jag, and Teresa Seraphin, from Westfield High in Fairfax, VA, who received Virginia’s Senior Division Outstanding Affiliate Entry Award for their exhibit entitled, “E Aihue Means to Steal,” which explores the history of America’s annexation of Hawaii. These students received this award by demonstrating high-quality scholarship. Aiden Mathai, an 8th grader from Blacksburg New School in Blacksburg, VA, received the George Washington Leadership in History Prize for his paper entitled, “Diplomatic Inception: How George Washington Used Jay’s and Pinckney’s Treaties to Preserve Peace and Prosperity in the United States during the Early Federal Period.” Aiden will receive a $1,000 prize from George Washington’s Mount Vernon for studying Washington’s role in the very first foreign treaties the United States agreed to.

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The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society — a private, non-profit organization established in 1831. The historical society is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation.