This year, five students from the small North Shore school are slated to attend the competition in Maryland this June.
Overall, more than a fourth of this year’s winning entries in Hawaii come from Laie and Kahuku High and Intermediate schools.
The competition includes a year-long program in which students develop history projects on topics ranging from the Holocaust to slavery.
Colleen Spring, who was named last year’s Hawaii History Teacher of the Year, oversees the renowned Laie Elementary program.
Fourteen students total are heading to nationals, but first they have to raise enough money for the trip. It’s going to cost $2,100 per student. Those interested in contributing should email Spring at Colleen_Spring@notes.k12.hi.us.
The History Day competitions include four levels: school, district, state and national.
Here’s a list of the finalists heading to nationals:
- Ilima Briones, Laie Elem, “Rights and Responsibilities during Martial Law in the Philippines,” Junior Documentary category (6th-8th grade)
- Micah Curtis, Laie Elem, “Crank, Crank, Boom: the Cotton Gin and the Rights and Responsibilities of Slaves in America,” Junior Performance category
- Siitia Cravens, Kristen Lewis, Kimbrell Kunz; Laie Elem; “Anne Frank: A Dream of a Jewish Girl”; Junior Performance category
- Jess Kanongataa, KHIS, “Nuremberg Trials: the Greatest Trials in History,” Senior Exhibit category (ninth-12th grade)
- Truman Spring, Addison Sharp; KHIS; “The Warren Court and the Miranda Rights”; Senior Documentary category
- Regina Shumway, Kaylee Miller, Darcie Allred; KHIS; “The Children Who Changed America”; Senior Performance category
- Brittany Scott, Yara Rose, Elle Compton; KHIS; “From Flames to Change: The Cuyahoga River Fire”; Senior Website category
A full list of winners can be found here.
Photo: Scholarship-winning KHIS performers (L-R) Regina Shumway, Darcie Allred & Kaylee Miller (Courtesy of Windward District schools)
— Alia Wong
