Six Barrington High Students Advance to Prestigious National History Day Competition
Barrington, RI – Six students from Barrington High School are heading to Washington, D.C. next month after dominating the National History Day state competition held at CCRI on April 27. The top performers earned their spots among nearly 3,000 students nationwide competing at the week-long National History Day finals.
The Barrington team, led by History Club teacher Tracy Miller, bested hundreds of student projects across Rhode Island. “National History Day is like a science fair—but for history,” Miller explained. “This year’s theme, ‘Revolution, Reaction, Reform’, inspired diverse projects across performances, papers, websites, documentaries, and exhibits.”
Unlike many schools, Barrington High does not include National History Day in its curriculum. Instead, students compete independently through the school History Club. Despite this, eight students competed at state, with six finishing in the top two of their categories to qualify for nationals.
Top Barrington Winners Heading to Nationals
Salma Riahi, junior and History Club president, secured first place in the individual paper division for her detailed analysis titled, “Electrified and Electrocuted: The Newport Folk Festival as a Site of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform.”
Sophomores Jasper Case and John Merkel took first place in the group performance category with their impactful piece, “The Significance of Bloody Sunday.” Their dynamic presentation highlighted a crucial moment in history linking to this year’s theme.
Juniors Peyton Hillier and Xavier Barako earned second place for their documentary film “The Spark,” focusing on the 1772 Gaspee Affair, a pivotal, lesser-known colonial event.
Sophomore Heidi Raif placed second in the individual website division with her vibrant project on the “Jazz Age: The Harlem Renaissance.” Fellow sophomore Kehan Tian also impressed the judges, taking third place in the website category for her work “Fiscal Fortunes Family Futures: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in China’s Economically Driven Child Policies.”
National Competition Draws Students from Across the Globe
The upcoming National History Day event in Washington, D.C. will host students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories including Guam and American Samoa, as well as international schools in China, Korea, and beyond. Nearly 3,000 students will showcase projects across dozens of categories.
This national platform offers an unparalleled opportunity for students like those from Barrington to compete with the best young historians in the country and the world. “These students showcase incredible talent and dedication, especially given that they pursue NHD projects independently,” Miller said.
What’s Next for the Barrington History Club?
With the national competition approaching next month, Barrington’s six qualifiers are now intensifying their preparations. Their dedication highlights the vital role extracurricular academic competitions play in nurturing student passion for history.
Their success underscores the growing reach and impact of National History Day, a premier educational program engaging youth in critical thinking and storytelling about history’s most transformative events.
Stay tuned as The Ohio Observer brings updates from Washington, D.C., where these young historians will represent Rhode Island and compete on the national stage.
“National History Day is sort of like a science fair, but for history,” said Barrington teacher Tracy Miller, emphasizing the unique challenge and prestige of the competition.
