SAN JOSE, CA – Young history buffs left their mark in Sacramento at the National History Day - California state finals earlier in May. Santa Clara County brought back three champions, three runners-up, and two honorable mentions from the competition. Two champion projects will be among the more than 60 others representing California at the national level competition in Maryland from June 8-12.
The champion projects advancing are:
- The Harker School - “Should I Sacrifice to Live Half American?” The Double V Campaign and the African-American Struggle for Rights through Responsibility during World War II
- The Harker School - Rights vs. Responsibilities: The Irish Nationalists of the RIC in the War for Independence
- Castilleja School - Voices in the Dark: The Tragic End of the Radium Girls
Runners-up were from the following schools:
- Castilleja School - The Selma Voting Rights Marches: The Rights of the Marchers and the Responsibilities of Alabama
- Lexington Elementary - Third-Grade Girls Change the World: The Right to Education and the Responsibility of the State
- Noddin Elementary - The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The Right to Accessibility
Honorable Mention included:
- Castilleja School - Defending the Hate and the Right to Offend: Village of Skokie v. National Socialists Party of America
- Castilleja School - Fred T. Korematsu v. United States: The Case Which Challenged the Rights and Responsibilities of Our Society
In March, 112 students from 15 school districts participated in the South Bay Peninsula National History Day competition. Students in grades 6-12 presented documentaries, podcasts, websites, performances, and exhibits aligned with the project theme “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”
A total of 49 projects advanced to the state National History Day Competition held May 2-4 at California State University, Sacramento. Additionally, students from Santa Clara County participated in the state paper category. A student from the Los Gatos Union School District received a social justice history prize.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education will host and sponsor the 2026 National History Day Competition for the South Bay region in partnership with the South Bay Peninsula National History Day on March 1, 2026. Details for the competition can be found at
https://www.sccoe.org/history/Pages/History-Day.aspx
National History Day engages students in discovering the historical, cultural, and social significance of the past through project-based learning.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency committed to serving, inspiring, and promoting student and public school success. For more information about the Santa Clara County Office of Education, please visit www.sccoe.org and follow us @SCCOE on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
