Bakersfield history students win state finals
| Sunday, May 03 2009 04:05 PM
Last Updated Sunday, May 03 2009 04:05 PM
History Day in California
Local state finalists:
* Individual exhibit
Student: Annie Bardet, 7th grade
School: Fruitvale Junior High
Project: "Mother Teresa: A light in the darkness"
* Group performance
Students:
Fameen Bramer, 7th grade
Bianca Hinojosa, 8th grade
Calvin Laverty, 7th grade
Marissa Manos, 8th grade
Ramneet Sahota, 7th grade
School: Fruitvale Junior High
Project: "Sylvia Mendez: The legacy of a young girl's fight for equality in education"
* Group performance
Students:
Aaliyah Beed, 8th grade
Gabriela Forter, 8th grade
Dylan Gonzales, 8th grade
Madison Olinger, 8th grade
Richard Sottile, 8th grade
School: Fruitvale Junior High
Project: "Elie Wiesel: A survivor's legacy, a message for mankind"
* Individual documentary
Student:
Sarah Moore, sophomore
School: Centennial High School
Project: "Silently leading a legacy: The actions of Chiune Sugihara"
Alternates:
Andrew Kerwin, Fruitvale, 7th grade; Brittani Louey, Fruitvale, 7th grade; Makay Moss, Columbia Elementary, 6th grade; Amy Williams, Columbia Elementary, 6th grade
A dozen local students won top honors Sunday in a statewide a history contest in Sacramento.
And they'll head to Maryland next month to take part in the national event.
"The competition was actually really hard this year," said Dylan Gonzales, an 8th-grader at Fruitvale Junior High School, whose group was among Sunday's state finalists. Last year, Dylan was part of a group that placed third in the nation.
Sunday's finals of History Day in California wrapped up the annual event, now in its 26th year, which started Thursday. Individuals and groups ranging from 4th grade to high school seniors shared projects with judges on this year's theme: "The Individual In History: Actions and Legacies."
Fruitvale had one individual and two group winners, while a Centennial High School sophomore brought home an award as well, said Susan Richardson, Fruitvale's principal.
Dylan's group took part in the performance category, where students write a script, create costumes and come up with props to act out a 10-minute project before three judges.
The judges then ask about the topic.
"They all ask really, really hard questions," Dylan said.
National finals will take place June 14-18 at the University of Maryland.
