Westport Students Win Big At National History Day Contest

Information via the Connecticut Democracy Center

WESTPORT, CT — Twenty-one students from across Connecticut, five of which were from Westport, received awards at the 2021 National History Day Contest during a virtual ceremony Saturday.

According to a news release, this win represents the highest number of awards ever for a Connecticut delegation to NHD.

Fifty-six students represented Connecticut at the virtual contest this year after advancing by placing in first or second place at the Connecticut state contest last month. They joined close to 3,000 students from the U.S. and overseas to compete at the national level.

Thousands of middle and high school students participated in the 2021 Connecticut History Day program, one of 58 affiliate programs of National History Day.

"I'm so proud of Connecticut's students for persevering through a really difficult year to do amazing research on creative topics," State Coordinator Rebecca Taber said in a news release. "The students' hard work is reflected in Connecticut's strong showing at the national contest. Congratulations to the teachers and students!"

Inspired by the theme "communication in history: the key to understanding," high school and middle school students wrote papers, created exhibits, produced documentaries, designed websites and staged performances exploring topics ranging from Prudence Crandall to the Beatles to the creation of the telegraph.

The following student was awarded a prize for placing in the top three in their project category:

• Third Place, Senior Individual Exhibit: Zachary Brody, Staples High School (Westport) - "Blowing Smoke: Unmasking the Persuasive Communication Techniques of Cigarette Advertising in the 20th Century: a Key to Understanding the Emergence of Regulations."

One Westport student received a special prize for an exceptional project in a specific area of history:

Senior Division, Outstanding Connecticut Award: Jeffrey Pogue, Staples High School (Westport) - "Thomas Paine, the Most Influential Man in America: A Key to Understanding Revolutionary Communication." Jeffrey also finished in fourth place in senior individual performance.

Other top 10 finalists from Westport include:

Sixth Place, Senior Individual Exhibit: Hannah Fiarman, Staples High School (Westport) - "The Freedom Rides: Communicating Injustices in Interstate Travel for a Key understanding of Crucial Change."

Tenth Place, Senior Group Exhibits: Michael Nealon and William Jin, Staples High School (Westport) - "America's Key to Understanding: How Uncle Tom's Cabin Communicated Abolitionist Ideals and Changed the Minds of Millions."

Connecticut History Day, coordinated by the Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut's Old State House, is one of 58 affiliate programs of NHD. CHD promotes the study of history in schools to create a higher degree of appreciation for the value of historical thought in students, educators, and community members.

CHD creates college and career-ready citizens of the future by engaging students in rigorous, inquiry-based academic research projects. Further information can be found at ctdemocracycenter.org.