Fontana Students Recognized for Achievements at California History Day

At the June 23, 2010 Board of Education meeting, the Fontana students who placed at the state level for the History Day competition were recognized for their achievements.

• Edith De La Cueva, Anthony Reyes, and Carina De La Cueva of Summit High School received first place for their Senior Division Group Exhibit, “Eli Whitney and the Cotton Gin.”
• Norman Zeledon, Sean Burford, and Magnum Terrazas of Summit High School were named as Alternates to the National History Day Competition for their Senior Division Group Exhibit “Guttenberg and the Printing Press.”
• Samuel Murillo of Sequoia Middle School was named as Alternate for his Junior Division Individual Website “X-Rays.”
  

Edith, Anthony, and Carina recently returned from the University of Maryland where they competed at National History Day on June 13-17. Although they did not win a medal at the competition (as Kim MacKinney, Director of Secondary Instruction said, “The judges just didn’t see it the way we did.”), the students thoroughly enjoyed their National History Day experience. “There’s the excitement and anxiety at every awards ceremony,” said Anthony. “There’s the sense of pride and elegance in every interview. There’s the challenge of creating a glorious presentation that will teach the readers and judges almost everything I have learned in months, in just a few minutes.”

Summit History Day Coach Sherry Hamilton said that in addition to the National History Day competition, the students had an opportunity to visit our nation’s capital, George Washington’s plantation at Mt. Vernon, and Colonial Williamsburg. “Standing amidst historical artifacts and visiting the first capitol of the United States, Williamsburg, allowed me to better understand the importance the history in our everyday lives,” said Edith.

All in all, the National History Day experience was one these students will remember for years to come. “It is opportunities like these that give inspiration and motivation to students to pursue higher education,” said Carina.

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