“Our outstanding performance this year is a direct result of the many hours of hard work the students invested in their research,” said Tennessee History Day coordinator Nikki Ward in a press release. “The History Day competition cycle allows the students to revise their projects based on feedback from the judges. Our students continued to work on their entries even after school ended for the semester, and their efforts were rewarded.”
Students are invited to compete at the National History Day competition after competing in a cycle of contests at regional and state levels. Only about 60 students from more than 7,250 students across the state are selected to represent Tennessee at the National History Day contest which is held each June in College Park, MD.
This year’s national honorees from Tennessee are:
Rukaia Barrouk and Maymuna Faqih (Pleasant View School) — Outstanding Affiliate Award, Junior Division and an Honorable Mention for their Junior Group Website
Dany Hamze, Evan Lewellyn, Hayley McManic, Malaika Kumar and Risha Manga (Lausanne Collegiate School) — Honorable Mention for their Senior Group Performance
Suha Faruk (Pleasant View School) — Honorable Mention for the Senior Individual Website
Fayadh Chowdhury, Ibrahim Boudaoud and Ibrahim Malik (Pleasant View School) — Honorable Mention for their Senior Group Website
“Congratulations to these outstanding students for representing Tennessee so well,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a press release. “I commend them on their talent and hard work. I know the knowledge and skills they developed by participating in History Day will serve them now and in the future.”
“History Day competition is so much more than just history. Participating in History Day has taught me to analyze historical events from multiple perspectives,” says Risha Manga, a team member from 444 Days that earned an Honorable Mention at the Nationals for their Senior Group Performance. Manga, who is a senior at Lausanne Collegiate School has been participating in the History Day competitions since middle school.
“The contests have been virtual for the past 3 years and even though it was tough to perform with masks on, our team took upon the challenge,” adds Manga. “Lausanne always has a great showing at the History Day competitions and we have a lot of fun while preparing for these contests. Last year a Lausanne student’s [Krishnav Manga] documentary representing Tennessee at the Nationals was selected to be showcased by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.”
The last 3 years, even though the competitions were held virtually due to the pandemic, it didn’t deter these students from putting forth their best performance. “The third time is a charm, but we are confident that this was our last virtual National Contest,” said Dr. Cathy Gorn, Executive Director of National History Day, in a press release.
Students start preparing for this yearlong curriculum in each fall. The students compete at school, district, state, and national competitions and only the top two projects in each category advance to the next level.
For more information about National History Day or Tennessee History Day, visit tennesseehistory.org/tennessee-history-day