Parker Junior High Advances 6 Teams to Illinois State National History Day Competition

FLOSSMOOR, IL — There was a quiet buzz of anticipation in the Media Center at Parker Junior High on the afternoon of March 16. By 4 p.m., that buzz had grown into a room full of nervous excitement as 7th and 8th-grade Humanities students gathered for their annual National History Day Virtual Award Ceremony Watch Party.

Earlier this month, these students represented Flossmoor School District 161 at the Chicago Regional competition held on the campus of the University of Illinois Chicago. After weeks of research, revisions, and rehearsals, everything came down to this moment.

As the announcements began, the room quickly transformed. Cheers erupted, students jumped from their seats, and teammates hugged as their names were called. Some covered their mouths in disbelief while others clapped and shouted in celebration.

By the end of the ceremony, the pride in the room was unmistakable. Six Parker teams had advanced to the Illinois State Competition, the highest number in the school’s history.

This accomplishment reflects months of hard work guided by Humanities teacher Linda O’Dwyer, who has built a strong and inspiring National History Day program at Parker Junior High for 13 years. Now in her 20th year at Parker, she has led 39 teams to the state competition throughout her career and four teams to the national competition over the past four years.

“I am incredibly proud of our students and the dedication they showed throughout this process. National History Day challenges them to ask important questions and truly engage with history in a meaningful way. Watching their hard work come to life and seeing their excitement is what makes this experience so rewarding,” said O’Dwyer.

For O’Dwyer, National History Day is about more than competition. It is about helping students develop their voice, think critically, and make meaningful connections between the past and present.

The six advancing teams will travel to Springfield on Monday, May 4, to compete at the state level, carrying with them not only their projects but also the excitement and confidence that filled the Media Center that afternoon.

Below are the students and projects that will represent Parker Junior High at the Illinois State Competition:

Performance, 8th Grade
Hannah Daggett, Millie Mlynarcik, Riordan Kelly, Nia Davis, Minah Bobb
The Weight of Being Seen: How the Stonewall Riots Shaped Modern America

Documentary, 8th Grade
Elliot Chan, Naya Kittling, Alani Jeffries, Jemyria Dyer, Coralie DeSchepper
Unseen Insight: The Braille Revolution

Exhibit Board, 8th Grade
Connor Boyko, Malachi Rucker, Djimon Shakoor, Charles Zurek, Sam O'Shea
The Newsies Stopped the World!

Documentary, 7th Grade
Nora Rouse, Sophia Briceno, Mila Mathis, Amiya McDowell
The Civil Rights Revolution and the Women Who Made It Happen

Performance, 7th Grade
Avery Cheung, Dahlia Thomas, Emma Santiago, Sophie Folaju
The Radium Girls: Reforming History Beyond the Grave

Performance, 7th Grade
Finn Davis, Chinedum Achara, Raheem Sokoya
DeStalinization: The Beginning of Soviet Reform

In addition, one Parker team received special recognition at the regional competition:

Special Award, Exhibit Board, 8th Grade
Timel Moore, Sean Barzso, Josiah Turpeau
Redlining