Lakewood Ranch students prove history, research skills

Brianna Camann – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) juniors swept the research paper awards away at 2025 Manatee County History Day.

“Manatee History Day stated “Every year National History Day frames students’ research within a historical theme. The theme is chosen for the broad application to world, national, or state history and its relevance to ancient history or to the more recent past.”

The 2025 theme was “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”

The students wrote their papers as part of the school's dual enrolled US History class, which offers simultaneous credit at both LRHS and the University of South Florida.

Mustang Lyla Mucenski won first place for her research paper called “The Rights and Responsibilities of a Legal Adult.”

Mucenski said, “I chose to examine the inconsistency between the legal drinking age and the responsibilities of adulthood because I have witnessed how this disparity contributes to unsafe drinking behaviors. This issue raises important questions about the definition of legal adulthood and the impact of these inconsistencies on young adults' decision-making and safety.”

Cashton Yant came in second place for his paper ““How the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Changed Rights and Responsibilities of Workers.”

Yant said he was drawn to the 1911 factory because is was so sad.

"I chose to write about this topic because I wanted to express how a terrible tragedy was able to majorly impact society in a positive manner," he said.

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Mustang Jackson Fawcett came in third place with his research paper called “Child Labor During the Industrial Revolution in the USA.”

Fawcett said the topic was attractive for several reasons.

"I choose my topic (child labor during the industrial revolution) because of three reasons. First, I was just starting to work, so the idea of child labor was on my mind. Second, I knew I needed to have supportive documents for the assignment and around the time of the industrial revolution is when decent records were starting to be kept. Third, I knew I wanted a topic that was morally clear. One that I could argue for without many avenues for counterclaims popping up."

Meanwhile there were special awards for Mustangs Valeria Para and Yant.

Para was rewarded with “Equality in History AND Women’s History” for the research paper she wrote called “Women’s Right to go to Medical School in the US in the 19th Century.”

Para said, “I wanted the topic to showcase how women persevered to break gender norms of their time period. This topic interested me because I want to pursue a career in medicine and highlighting the obstacles faced by women to pursue the same career serves an as motivation to keep striving towards my ultimate goal.”

Yant, on the other hand, was awarded with “American Labor History” for the research paper he wrote called “How the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Changed Rights and Responsibilities of Workers.”

All four Mustangs have the opportunity to participate in the state history fair later this year.