BALDWIN PARK – Vineland Elementary sixth-graders Silence Jackson and Ria Santos will represent Baldwin Park Unified and Los Angeles County at the State History Day Competition, where students are challenged to conduct extensive research and creatively interpret their findings before a panel of educators and historians.

After winning the junior individual exhibit division at the annual History Day L.A. contest on March 25, Jackson and Santos qualified for the state competition, to be held Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7 at William Jessup University in Rocklin, California.

History Day events challenge elementary- through high-school students to create individual or group research projects related to the 2016-17 theme, “Taking a Stand in History.” Projects are submitted as performances, research papers, websites, exhibits or documentary films.

Jackson focused on the accomplishments of Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams and Santos addressed the economic reforms of Chinese political leader Deng Xiaoping. For more than three months, both students conducted primary and secondary research and connected the topic to the theme, which is put in place to provide a lens for examining and understanding history.

“Deng Xiaoping’s relationship with other countries was interesting to learn about,” said Santos, who also competed in the History Day L.A. contest in 2016. “His stand against protesters was brave and it made him different from past Chinese leaders.”

The top two winners from each project category at the state contest will advance to represent California at the National History Day Competition, which runs June 11-15 at the University of Maryland.

“I’m excited and nervous to have the opportunity to go on to nationals because I don’t know what to expect,” Jackson said. “I’ve learned a lot from being in the competition though, and I’m looking forward to discussing my topic with the judges.”

National History Day is a nonprofit organization that fosters intellectual curiosity and academic achievement through annual competitions, as a way to teach history and make the subject engaging through educational contests.

“We are so proud of our students for excelling in such a highly regarded academic contest, and for winning in an intensely competitive division,” Superintendent Froilan N. Mendoza said. “With the tremendous efforts of our teachers, these students are given the opportunity to represent the best of the best for Los Angeles County.”

PHOTOS

BPUSD_History_1: Silence Jackson, a sixth-grader at Vineland Elementary, holds the pink finalist ribbon at the History Day L.A. contest for her work on Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams.

BPUSD_History_2: Vineland Elementary School sixth-grader Ria Santos’ project about Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms earned her a finalist spot at the State History Day Competition, to be held Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7.

BPUSD_History_3: Vineland Elementary sixth-graders Silence Jackson and Ria Santos qualified for the State History Day Competition after winning in the junior individual exhibit division. They will go on to represent Baldwin Park Unified and Los Angeles County at the State History Day Competition.