Rhode Island Students Win National History Day Awards
Student-Made Exhibit Featured by the National Museum of American History
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Fifty-six middle and high school students from across Rhode Island competed in this year’s National History Day 2022 National Contest, which was held virtually Sunday, June 12-Saturday, June 18.
Each competing student qualified for Nationals by earning awards during the Rhode Island History Day state contest on April 9, which was coordinated and sponsored by the Rhode Island Historical Society.
The 2022 contest theme was “Debate & Diplomacy: Successes, Failures, Consequences” with students invited to contribute projects in one of five categories, including: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, and website.
During the National Contest, Rhode Island students competed against regional winners from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and international schools.
John and Joshua Maynard, ninth graders from Toll Gate High School, received Second Place in the Senior Division Group Exhibit category for their exhibit The Compromise of 1877, which was advised by teachers Sharon Franco and Thalia Wood. The team was also chosen to be featured in a virtual Exhibit Showcase hosted by the National Museum of American History and NHD.
In addition, Alexis Adamonis and Regan Brodey, eighth graders from Winman Junior High School, received Outstanding Rhode Island Affiliate Entry in the Junior Division for their documentary The Longhouse of Democracy, which was advised by teacher Anibal Raposo. The team was also awarded the Tomaquag Museum prize during the Rhode Island State Contest.
Riley McCormick, a tenth grader at Ponaganset High School, received Outstanding Rhode Island Afilliate Entry in the Senior Division for her documentary, Terror in Tehran: How the Iran Hostage Crisis Changed Diplomacy, advised by teacher Christopher Stanley.
The RIHS was able to sponsor ten of the participating students for the National Contest thanks to a grant from The Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Eastern Region Program at Waynesburg University.
Teachers and homeschool families who would like to learn more about participating in Rhode Islanid History Day can contact the Rhode Island State Contest Coordnator by emailing rhodeisland@nhd.org