The School District of Lancaster is proud to celebrate more than 50 students who recently participated in the Regional National History Day competition, where their dedication to historical research and scholarship were on full display.
National History Day challenges students to move beyond memorizing historical facts. Through months of research and analysis, students investigate complex moments in history and present their findings through exhibits, performances, documentaries, websites, and research papers. The process asks students to think critically, evaluate evidence, and communicate their ideas in compelling ways. Our students rose to that challenge and represented the district with exceptional effort and talent.
Students from across the district earned top placements at the regional level, with many advancing to the Pennsylvania State National History Day competition at the University of Scranton this April.
Regional winners advancing to states include:
Junior Group Exhibit
- 3rd Place: Ruby Massey-Hartz, Valerie De Avila and Penny Proud, “We’re not in Wonderland anymore Alice”: Charles Manson, Leader of the Famous Hollywood Murders
- 2nd Place: Michael Shoff and Preston Weaver, How the Telegraph Revolutionized Communication in the Civil War
Junior Group Performance
- 3rd Place: Leena Iyengar, Mia Cubilete Ramirez, Ella Geissinger, Rebecca Ile and Armaghan Hebrat, Small City, Significant Impact; Lancaster, PA in the Civil War
- 2nd Place: Isabella Sedano-Perez, Hadley Schuller, Annabelle Valentin and Penelope Whetstone, Her Side of History
- 1st Place: Beatrice Brogan, Wilhelmina Reiner, Dellysmarie Quinones, Edel Hauck and Alannah Carrion-Rodriguez, Thaddeus Stevens and the Underground Railroad
Junior Group Website
- 2nd Place: Brynn Stadler and Gabriella Pruitt, Seeds of Suspicion, Salem 1692
Junior Individual Documentary
- 3rd Place: Shalina Rai, The Assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- 2nd Place: Liam Bates, The Christiana Riots
- 1st Place: Isaac Bhaerman-Shapiro, The Life and Times of Bridget Bishop
Junior Individual Exhibit
- 2nd Place: Nevaeh Hines, Gwangju Uprising: When Gwangju Fought for Their Rights
- 1st Place: Krissa Ghimire, From Year Zero to Aftermath: Reform and Reaction under the Khmer Rouge
Senior Individual Exhibit
- 3rd Place: Zofia Lewis, Behind the “Nylon Curtain”: The Political Undertones of Billy Joel
- 2nd Place: Noah Orozco-Parra, Penicillin: The Moldy Miracle
Junior Individual Performance
- 1st Place: Frederick Eshleman, The Tragic Death of Malvin Lewis Brown
Senior Individual Performance
- 1st Place: Carter Weller, Brother vs Brother: A War as Old as Time
Junior Individual Website
- 3rd Place: Ira Tenyenhuis, The Revolutionary Overthrowing of Fulgencio Batista
- 2nd Place: Jael Agosto, The Voices of the People: Why the French Revolted
Beyond the awards themselves, the experience reflects the kind of learning that happens when students are encouraged to explore ideas deeply and make meaningful connections across disciplines.
“The students’ experience is an extension of their learning; the NHD project allows students to go beyond the historical facts and make connections to other disciplines they are studying,” said Brian McDonald, Ph.D., Supervisor of Secondary Language and Literature, Individuals and Societies, and Advanced Programs. “It also is a time for our students to showcase their creativity and knowledge of the subject as these are both characteristics of the MYP Learner Profile.”
National History Day also encourages students to examine both global and local history. Several projects explored Lancaster’s own historical legacy, including the role of Thaddeus Stevens and the Underground Railroad and the city’s impact during the Civil War. These projects demonstrate how students are learning to see their own community as part of a larger historical narrative.
The School District of Lancaster congratulates all of the students who participated in this year’s competition, as well as the teachers and mentors who supported them throughout the process. Their work reflects curiosity, persistence, and a commitment to understanding the past in order to better understand the present.
As these students prepare to compete at the State National History Day competition in April, the entire district is cheering them on. Their research and dedication represent the very best of student learning in the School District of Lancaster.