Michigan Students Honored at 2023 National History Day

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Michigan students were among the thousands of participants from across the United States and several territories competing in the National History Day contest, which took place June 11-15, 2023, on the University of Maryland campus. Nine Michigan students received special honors at this year’s competition—including a national third-place finish and one special prize. 

“The students explored some exciting topics for this year’s theme of Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. From Socrates and Cleopatra to space exploration and the Stonewall Uprising, the students examined how people around the world have opened new opportunities for future generations," said Amy Bradfield, state coordinator for Michigan History Day® (National History Day’s Michigan affiliate). “The students did a fantastic job of revising and refining their projects based on feedback from the judges and Historical Society of Michigan staff members. The dedication of the students to put forth their best work is inspiring.” Michigan History Day is operated by the nonprofit Historical Society of Michigan. 

Michigan students competing in the National History Day competition represented several communities, including Bloomfield Hills, Bruce Township, Clinton Township, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Drummond Island, Eastpointe, Fraser, Gobles, Harrison Township, Kalamazoo, Livonia, Marquette, Mattawan, Midland, Paw Paw, Portage, Roseville, Saginaw, Schoolcraft, South Haven, Traverse City, Troy, Warren, Watervliet, Westland and Whitehall.  

Check out the Michigan students who received top honors at this year's national competition below!

Aliah Mohmand of Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, sponsor Bradley Ihrcke, placed third in the nation for the Senior Division Individual Exhibit category with her entry, “Afghan Mujahideen: Catalyst for Collapse; Changing the Communist Frontier.” 

Isabella Causie of Whitehall Middle School in Whitehall, sponsor Jan Klco, received the Junior Division Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers Prize for her individual website, “Easing the Pain: Anesthesia Alleviates Agony.” The award is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Causie placed sixth in the nation for the Junior Division Individual Website category. 

Violet Sarcona and Ashlyn Stemmerich of Richards Middle School in Fraser, sponsor Tara Fugate, received the Junior Division Outstanding Affiliate Award, designating them as one of the best-in-state projects, for their group exhibit, “Radium Girls: Steps Toward Workers' Safety.” The students placed in the national Top 20 for the Junior Division Group Exhibit category. 

Andy Yao of H.H. Dow High School in Midland, received the Senior Division Outstanding Affiliate Award, designating him as best-in-state, for his paper, “A Frontier Untamed: the Causes and Legacy of the Pueblo Revolt.” Yao placed fourth in the nation for the Senior Division Paper category. 

The exhibit titled, “Salient Steps Toward Suffrage,” created by Faith Aloia, Vanessa Ellis, Alisha Gentz, and Frankie Palazzolo from Fraser High School in Fraser, was selected to represent Michigan in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History Exhibit Showcase. Each affiliate gets to select one exhibit to join students from other affiliates around the world to meet members of the public who are eager to speak with students about their projects and research. The students were sponsored by Tara Fugate and placed tenth in the nation for the Senior Division Group Exhibit category.

Michigan History Day® is an affiliate of National History Day, which was established in 1974 and offers yearlong project-based learning that engages more than half a million middle and high school students around the world annually. National History Day provides a fascinating opportunity to move beyond routine learning. Working with an annual theme, students choose to explore and research a local, national or international historical topic. Students then present their work in one of five categories: performances, exhibits, papers, websites and documentaries. 

Lead sponsors of Michigan History Day 2023 are the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, Huntington, Dr. William F. Pickard, The Meijer Foundation, the Americana Foundation, and Michigan Humanities.

The Historical Society of Michigan is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigan’s rich history.