Students Excel at National History Day Regional Competition

Congratulations to the talented and dedicated University School of Milwaukee students who participated in the National History Day regional competition, held virtually this year. Only 27 projects in total were selected from the southeastern region to move on to the state contest, and USM students claimed 19 of those spots!

This year’s theme was Debate and Diplomacy in History. Students conducted historical research using primary and secondary sources, developed and supported nuanced thesis statements, and created projects to communicate their work in one of five categories: historical papers, websites, documentaries, exhibits, or performances.

“The collective work of our young scholars is very impressive, as they researched and produced impressive projects during difficult times,” said Chuck Taft, 8th grade American studies teacher and History department chair. “We are proud of all of them!” Special thanks to the parents and family members who supported the students, as well as Elaine Griffin, head of Middle School, Sue Beaty, 8th grade English teacher, and Ivana Renteria, Middle School librarian, for their support.

Qualifiers will compete at the state competition virtually, with results posted on April 16. 

Milwaukee North Regional Results (8th Grade):

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTARY          
State Qualifier: Gyan Gupta: The Heart of Conflict: Understanding the Iran Hostage Crisis 
State Qualifier: Alani Walls: Family and Medical Leave Act: The First Step in Family Rights 

JUNIOR GROUP DOCUMENTARY
State Qualifier: Anand George and Eshaan Vasudev: An Oasis of Peace in a Desert of War: The Enduring Legacy of the Camp David Accords 
State Qualifier: Veer Gokhale and Carson Tauscher: Fair Housing in Milwaukee: Progression and Regression
State Qualifier: Yussi Hashim, Bethany Martin, and Zara Vaseem: Great White Hope vs. Galveston Giant: The Genesis of Athletic Equality
Alternate: Eashan Anne and Charles Slocum: Murder in the Skies: Korean Airlines Flight 007 - 

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL EXHIBIT
State Qualifier: Atieno Rodriguez: Giving Madness A Face 

JUNIOR GROUP EXHIBIT
State Qualifier: Nikhil Lazzaro and Andy Werner: The Failure in Kyoto 
State Qualifier: Anaya Amin and Reiley Fitzsimmons: Project Blue Book: More Questions Than Answers 
State Qualifier: Gurleen Ahuja, Neva Miner, and Abbey Norman: Fangs Out For Recognition 
Alternate:  Alice Gardner and Stella Janowski-Melchior: “Football is On Trial:” How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football

JUNIOR PAPERS
State Qualifier: Read Tuttle: A Meeting of Diplomats That Changed History 
State Qualifier: Benjamin Naples: The Protocol That Changed Chemical Warfare: The 1925 Geneva Protocol
Alternate: Harini Tallam: The Birthplace of International Justice - The Trials at Nuremberg 

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
State Qualifier: Grace Piper: Ruby and Mrs. Henry: The Story for a Lifetime 
State Qualifier: Elizabeth Markwald: A Dance through Martha Graham’s Life 

JUNIOR GROUP PERFORMANCE
Alternate: Annie Read and Ella Scott: Women vs. Women, the Internal Debate for Women’s Rights and the 19th Amendment 

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL WEBSITE
State Qualifier: Nina Goldberg: The Sabin Polio Vaccine: Advancement Between Adversaries
State Qualifier: Wynter Maitland: Serving For Human Rights - Arthur Ashe’s Diplomacy Against Apartheid
State Qualifier: Aneesha Jayasuriya: Trying to Drive Through Defense: The Debate Over Women’s Basketball

JUNIOR GROUP WEBSITE
State Qualifier: Aurelia Dawson and Kaitlyn Paullin: Our Best Soldiers 
State Qualifier: Liesel Kocourek and Delia Narrai: Mendez v. Westminster Unspoken But Not Unheard 
State Qualifier: Henry Bechthold and Theodoros Dimitropoulos: Prohibition In Wisconsin: The Altering Debate