POMONA – After posting strong performances at a local-level competition, three Pomona Unified students will proudly represent the District and Los Angeles County in National History Day-California, a contest that challenges students to examine the past, engage in intensive historical research and creatively express their conclusions through their writing, exhibits, documentaries and performances.

Miguel Lozano of Ganesha High and Jaanai Mendez and Cyanne Sandoval of Pomona High will join a team of 100 L.A. County students for the statewide competition, held May 8-9 at William Jessup University in northern California. The event will feature more than 1,000 students from 34 counties.

Winners will advance to represent California at the National History Day competition, to be held in June at the University of Maryland, College Park.

“Our students and their advisers have worked very hard to reach this level of the competition and should be very proud of their achievement,” Board of Education President Andrew Wong said. “Pomona Unified’s educators are committed to encouraging their students to dig into historical research and analyze the world around them.”

The students advanced to the state round after being named finalists during the History Day L.A. competition on March 14.

In addition to Lozano, Mendez and Sandoval, student researchers from Ganesha included TeeJae Viado, Betsabe Vazquez, Antonia Lopez, Jasiel Lopez, Joseph Flores, Jaime Herrera, Vyvy Lu, Fatima Gamero, Jennifer Nguyen, Denise Ramirez, Yvette Chavez, Nicole Centeno, Jayaira Perez, Crystal Chavez, Kerum Lucas, Montserrath Martinez and Erika Lopez. From Pomona High, students included Susan Lucas, Carissa Landeros, Lisette Aguirre, Bertha Romero, Kimberly Ulloa, Vanessa Urquizo, Cyanne Sandoval, Jaanai Mendez and Jessica Muñoz

Emerson Middle School students also participated in the competition.

“National History Day encourages students to examine the past and recognize that the world’s history contains complex figures who grappled with leadership ethics and social issues during their respective tenures,” Ganesha Principal Jennifer Francev said. “Students have really connected with the notion that history is full of information that can be applied to contemporary topics.”

Pomona High School Principal Roger Fasting echoed the importance of honoring the past to create a more vibrant and informed future.

“This generation of students stands at a pivotal moment where the whole world is available for them to learn from and eventually innovate,” Fasting said. “National History Day honors where we have come from as a world population and makes history and research more approachable for our students.”

The program is also a testament to the worldly scholars Pomona Unified produces.

“This contest exemplifies what we aim to do here in Pomona Unified on a daily basis, which is to drive and inspire students to go beyond the surface of what they are learning,” said PUSD Superintendent Richard Martinez. “This is a creative program that allows our students to fully immerse themselves in history and be recognized for the great work that they are doing.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

PHSTEAM: The Pomona High School student research team participated in the Los Angeles County in National History Day-California in March. Students Cyanne Sandoval and Jaanai Mendez advanced to the state round competition taking place May 8-9.

GANESHATEAM: The Ganesha High School student research team participated in the Los Angeles County in National History Day-California in March. Student Miguel Lozano advanced to the state round competition taking place May 8-9.