Seven Goose Creek CISD students advance to National History Day competition

Seven Goose Creek CISD students have advanced to the National History Day competition in Washington, D.C., after winning top honors at the State History Day.

In addition, Goose Creek CISD had two third place finishes, one honorable mention, eight distinguished achievement awards, and two special awards for oral history at the state history day event.

Goose Creek CISD sent a total of 28 entries to Texas History Day. The results indicate that Goose Creek CISD had a 50 percent ratio of entries reaching the finals or better. Seven secondary campuses had students receiving recognition.

The state of Texas sends a total of 32 entries to National History Day. Goose Creek CISD represents 11 percent of those.

“It’s always exciting to see what our Texas History Day students accomplish through their research, hard work and individual creativity,” said Coordinator of Social Studies and Advanced Academics Toni Shuman. “We’re taking three entries and seven students to national competition, but half of our Goose Creek state entries reached the finals. We have much to be proud of, and all of our students deserve our sincere congratulations.”

Students representing Goose Creek CISD at the National History Day event include:

• Sterling High School student Caitlin May won first place in the individual historical paper in the senior division. Her paper is entitled: “The Microscopic War.” Caitlin is the student of Maggie Eubanks.

• Gentry Junior student Matthew Broussard won first place in the individual performance category in the junior division. His performance is entitled: “Anesthesia: No Pain, Medical Gain.” Matthew is the student of Toni Rosenbaum.

• In the junior group performance category, the Horace Mann team of Sasha Ramjattan, Han Bui, Kimberly Estrada, Betzianel Lagunas, and Kursten Jaime earned second-place honors. Their performance is entitled: “I’m Lovin’ It … Fast Food Steals America’s Heart.” They are the students of Ami Liggett and Suzy Ferrell.

These students will compete against more than 2,000 other students from across the country during the national competition that opens on June 13.

Student entries at the regional and state history fairs were all tied to the National History Day 2010 theme “Innovation in History: Impact and Change.”

Texas History Day, part of the National History Day program, is a yearlong education program that culminates in an annual state-level history fair for students in grades six through 12.

It provides an opportunity for students to develop their knowledge of history and their critical thinking, analytical reading and writing, presentation, media design, and public performance skills through creative and original papers, performances, documentaries, web sites or exhibits. While only the first- and second-place winners go on to the national contest, many other Goose Creek CISD students placed or won special awards at Texas History Day.

Junior Division:

• Horace Mann students Armando Morfin and Garrett Barton earned a Distinguished Achievement award in the website category.

• Horace Mann student Richard Echeverria earned a Distinguished Achievement award in the individual exhibit competition.

• The Cedar Bayou team of Britainy Lovett, Allie Guy, Sydney Tindol, and Juliana Yolland placed third in the group performance category.

• In the group documentary competition, Lauren Sparkes and Caisey Arnold of Baytown Junior earned a Distinguished Achievement award.

• Gentry Junior student Jovonne Ledet earned the Oral History award in the individual documentary competition.

Senior Division:

• Robert E. Lee student James Voytek earned a Distinguished Achievement award in the individual documentary category. James also earned an Oral History award in the same category.

• The Lee team of Terrance Boyd, Serjio Hidalgo, Paulina Cantu, Iesha Bourne, and Hillary Hopson earned a Distinguished Achievement award in the group performance category.

• Sterling High School’s Alexis Stafford, Kyle Murray, Kristin Murray, and Lindsey Fess earned a Distinguished Achievement award in the group performance category.

• Samiah Aulakh of Sterling High School earned a Distinguished Achievement award in the website competition.

• In the group exhibit competition, Sterling High students Nygel Wallace, Shawn Collins, Clay Matthews, and Brandon Christopher earned an Honorable Mention.

• The Sterling, Lee and Goose Creek Memorial team of Jonathan Guajardo, Jairo Monasterio, and Jesus Zepeda earned a Distinguished Achievement award in the group exhibit competition.

• And Tyler Stafford of Sterling placed third in the individual performance category.