Five MCPS Teams Earn National Honors for History Projects
Five student teams from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) earned national recognition for their projects at this year’s National History Day competition. Held June 8–12 at the University of Maryland, College Park, the annual event welcomed nearly 3,000 students from across the United States and abroad.
Students participated as individuals or in teams, showcasing their work in categories such as paper, performance, exhibit, website and documentary. To reach the national level, students must win at every level of competition: local, district and state. At each level, the top two projects in each category, both individual and team, move on. This year, 24 teams represented Maryland and half of those teams were from MCPS.
The team entry from Sligo Middle School, students Lydia Garside and Genevieve Lichtenberger, won the Special Prize for U.S. Women’s History. Their exhibit was also a finalist for the Junior Group Exhibit.
“In looking at the long-term impact of our project, Lydia and I chose it because we wanted a say in decisions that affect our lives,” said Genevieve.
“We wanted to explore a topic in history that still affects us today,” added Lydia. “Even though we can't vote yet, we will one day.”
Their national win came as a surprise, making the experience even more memorable.
“We didn't know we won at first, all we heard was ‘Silver Spring,’ so we started cheering,” Genevieve recalled. “It was unexpected and thrilling.”
“It was really unexpected,” echoed Lydia. “Once we heard our names, we felt extremely accomplished.”
Below is the full list of MCPS winners.
First Place, Junior Individual Performance
- Franka Hebisch, Eastern Middle School
- Teacher: Abigail Petit
- Category: Junior Individual Performance
- Title: Corporate Tyranny: Upholding Worker's and Women's' Rights and Owners Responsibilities During the Match Girls Strike of 1888
Special Prize Winner, Discovery or Exploration in History and Junior Individual Performance Finalist
- Maya Mourshed, Francis Scott Key Middle School
- Teacher: Steve O'Shaughnessy
- Category: Junior Individual Performance
- Title: Hello, Dolly!: How a Sheep Provoked Debate About the Implications of Breakthrough Scientific Advancements on Society
Special Prize Winner, U.S. Women’s History and Junior Group Exhibit Finalist
- Genevieve Lichtenberger and Lydia Garside, Sligo Middle School
- Teacher: Jason Smith
- Category: Junior Group Exhibit
- Title: Women's Right to Vote: Before and After the 19th Amendment
Senior Outstanding Entry and Senior Group Website Finalist
- Jacob Frias, Nikhil Pandey, Nuaimaan Tewfik and Emmanuel Getahun, Poolesville High School
- Teacher: Stephanie Gomer
- Category: Senior Group Website
- Title: The Salute that Changed The World: The 1968 Black Power Salute
Senior Individual Website Finalist
- Chloe Chang, Poolesville High School
- Teacher: Stephanie Gomer
- Category: Senior Individual Website
- Title: Making WAVES: The First Women's Reserve in the Navy