NHDKY State Contest Recap

The Kentucky Historical Society is proud to wrap up another successful National History Day in Kentucky (NHDKY) State Contest! This year, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History buzzed with the energy of 158 students from 25 schools, all showcasing months of hard work and research to a panel of 20 dedicated volunteer judges.

National History Day in Kentucky gives students a unique opportunity to dive deep into history they're passionate about, presenting their findings through one of five creative categories: documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances, or websites. Working individually or in small groups, students connect their chosen topics to an annual theme, this year's being Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.

The road to the State Contest began at Regional competitions across the Commonwealth, where volunteer judges from museums, universities, schools, and local communities evaluated each project on historical quality and clarity of presentation. The top third of projects in each category earned their spot at the State Contest, where students sharpened and revised their work based on judge feedback before competing for the ultimate prize — a shot at the National Contest at the University of Maryland this June.

This year's contest also featured six special awards, sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State, the America 250KY Commission, the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky, the Kentucky Museum and Heritage Alliance, and the Sons of the American Revolution.

A highlight among the special awards was the Outstanding Political History Award, sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State. Two prizes were awarded, one in the Elementary/Junior Division and one in the Senior Division, recognizing projects that explored foreign or domestic political history, or examined how civic engagement has helped shape political history in the U.S. or abroad. This award reflects the Secretary of State's commitment to fostering civic awareness and political literacy among Kentucky's next generation of historians.

Congratulations to all of this year's participants and award winners! To view student projects, visit our online showcase. To learn more about NHDKY or to get involved, visit nhd.org or history.ky.gov/nhdky.

To find out more or to become involved in NHDKY, please visit: nhd.org or history.ky.gov/nhdky.

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Special Awards

America 250KY Award, sponsored by the America 250 Kentucky Commission

First place - Zara Stewart – Junior Individual Exhibit – “Rewriting the Reel: How Appalshop Sparked a Cultural Revolution, Challenged Outsider Reaction, and Inspired Reform in Appalachia's Media Identity”

 

Outstanding Political History Award, sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State

Elementary/Junior Division - Zachary Maurmeier – Junior Paper – “From Protest to Power: How Martin Luther Challenged Authority and Reshaped Europe”

Senior Division - Vivaan Bhaskar, Harshan Karthik, Yashmit Sadhir, Aiden Song, and Aws Yousef – Senior Group Documentary – “Sputnik: A Turning Point in American History”

 

Outstanding African American History Award, sponsored by the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky

Senior Division - Kinzley Barrett – Senior Individual Website – “Boogie Wonderland: How the Disco Revolution Shaped a Lasting Space of Liberation”

Senior Division Runner Up - Gabriela Cedano and Millaray Galdean – Senior Group Exhibit – “Coalition of Change: How African American, Latino, and Working-Class Communities Transformed Activism”

Elementary/Junior Division - Benjamin Lingar – Junior Individual Exhibit – “Breaking The Chains”

Elementary/Junior Division Runner Up - Zion Buntin, Zarian Thomas, and Alexeun Williams – Junior Group Exhibit – “The Hotel Metropolitan and Its Significance in History”

 

Outstanding Kentucky History Award, sponsored by the Kentucky Museum and Heritage Alliance

Senior Division - Daniel Ratley – Senior Paper – “REVOLUTION, REACTION, AND REFORM IN KENTUCKY EDUCATION: THE KENTUCKY EDUCATION REFORM ACT”

Elementary/Junior Division - Cooper Epley, Bo Hoskins, and Alex Partin – Junior Group Documentary – “Bloody Harlan: The Revolution of Labor Union Rights, Reaction of Infuriated Coal Miners, and Reform Through Nationwide Outrage”

 

Innovation Through History Award, sponsored by the Louisville Slugger Museum

Senior Division - Jack Gill – Senior Paper – “To Err Is Human, So Design for It: The Mid-Twentieth-Century Revolution That Reframed Blame and Reformed Safety”

Elementary/Junior Division - Ava Gunning, Whitney Nguyen, and Joel Vaughn – Junior Group Website – “Silent Screams of Amber: Turning Pain into Protection”

 

Outstanding Early American History Award, sponsored by the Sons of the American Revolution

Senior Division - Reagan Day – Junior Individual Documentary – “Dinner, Debt, and Decisions: How the Compromise of 1790 Reformed America”

Elementary/Junior Division - Connor Goodin, Parker Lasley, Jordan Miracle, and Brody Sanders – Junior Group Performance – “How The Proclamation Line of 1763 Led to Revolution, Reaction, and Reform”

 

Category Awards

The following 1st and 2nd place winners (in the Junior and Senior Divisions only) have qualified to advance to the National Contest in College Park, MD. in June. 3rd place winners in those divisions will serve as alternates for the National Contest.

Elementary Individual Exhibit

First Place - Brailey Jones, “Lighting the Way: the Strike that Ignited Change,” Bell Central School Center

Second Place - Rhealyn Barnett, “Bloody Harlan,” Bell Central School Center

Third Place - Kenlee Gann, “Glowing with Danger,” Bell Central School Center

 

Elementary Group Exhibit

First Place - Payzlee Jordan, Emoree Philpot, and Peyton Smith, “Storms of Change,” Bell Central School Center

Second Place - Sami Karaoud and Leomaris Pitzer, “The Haitian Revolution: A Historical Uprising Inspired by African Identity"

 

Elementary Paper

First Place - Andrew Shaughnessy, “The White Rose: a Revolution against the Nazis,” Francis Parker School of Louisville

 

Elementary Group Performance

First Place - Edith Alihodzic, Maria Mattingly, and Grace Michalsen, “Who Shot First? The Battle of Lexington,” Francis Parker School of Louisville

Second Place - Bella Leonardo, Rosa Mae Morse, Maya Nayar, and Parker Scott, “The Titanic: a The World Reacts to a Revolutionary Voyage,” Francis Parker School of Louisville.

Third Place - Silas McDaniel, Duncan McLeish, and Adrian Wright, “AC/DC: The World Reacts to a Revolutionary Rock Band,” Francis Parker School of Louisville.

 

Junior Individual Documentary

First Place - Hailey Carey, “Public Reaction to Health Crisis: The Reality of Life at Waverly Hills,” St. Nicholas Academy

 

Junior Group Documentary

First Place - Reagan James and Sally Yu, “Trudy Ederle's Revolutionary English Channel Swim,” St. Nicholas Academy

Second Place - Cooper Epley, Bo Hoskins, and Alex Partin, “Bloody Harlan: The Revolution of Labor Union Rights, Reaction of Infuriated Coal Miners, and Reform Through Nationwide Outrage,” Lone Jack School Center

Third Place - Kaitlyn Kimbler and Layla Marion, “Three Days That Changed Everything,” Hebron Middle School

 

Junior Individual Exhibit

First Place - Zara Stewart, “Rewriting the Reel: How Appalshop Sparked a Cultural Revolution, Challenged Outsider Reaction, and Inspired Reform in Appalachia's Media Identity,” Page School Center

Second Place - Aria King, “The Black Panthers: Fearless Freedom Fighters,” Christian County Middle School

Third Place - Benjamin Lingar, “Breaking the Chains,” Pineville Independent School

 

Junior Group Exhibit

First Place - Addison Ervin, Chloe Green, and Leah Yeary, “It Only Takes One Match to Start A Fire: The Matchgirl Strike,” Bell Central School Center

Second Place - Kassidy Starrett and Alaina Stewart, “The Fight For The Vote,” Page School Center

Third Place - Bryce Strode and Jacob Wilson, “The October Revolution and Its Effects,” Hopkinsville Middle School

 

Junior Paper

First Place - Zachary Maurmeier, “From Protest to Power: How Martin Luther Challenged Authority and Reshaped Europe,” BAVEL

Second Place - Tyler Midkiff, “Precise vs. Probable: Revolution, Reaction, Reform,” Hebron Middle School

Third Place - Jake Lyons, “A Scientific Sensation: How the Discovery of the CMB Inspired Revolution and Reform in Our Understanding of the Universe,” Hebron Middle School

 

Junior Individual Performance

First Place - Sarah Nur Islam, “Books Against Bullets: Malala’s Fight for the Right to Learn,” Winburn Middle School

Second Place - Kara Gambrel, “Running for the Roses: The History of the Kentucky Derby,” Right Fork School Center

 

Junior Group Performance

First Place - Buster Morse, Maggie Terry, and Grayson Wood, “The French Revolution,” Francis Parker School of Louisville

Second Place - Connor Goodin, Parker Lasley, Jordan Miracle, and Brody Sanders, “How The Proclamation Line of 1763 Led to Revolution, Reaction, and Reform,” Page School Center

Third Place - Jasper Caldwell, Emma Runles, and Emery Sinsabaugh, “Voices of the Declaration: Women's Path to Independence,” Right Fork School Center

 

Junior Individual Website

First Place - Aleesa Bussard, “We Sang Our Way to Freedom,” Bullitt Lick Middle School

Second Place - Jordan Nguyen, “‘“Chiken Ramen,” the Invention that Fed Many,’” St. Nicholas Academy

Third Place - Jordyn Hall, “The Extremes of Being a Colonist,” Bullitt Lick Middle School

 

Junior Group Website

First Place - Ava Gunning, Whitney Nguyen, and Joel Vaughn, “Silent Screams of Amber: Turning Pain into Protection,” St. Nicholas Academy

Second Place - Kylie Ewing and Kay Hogan, “Lighting the Fuse of Change: Women's Journey from Mary Wollstonecraft to Today,” St. Nicholas Academy

Third Place - Ryan Eilers, Alex Pham, and Dylan Whitlock, “The Roman Empire: Republic to Empire,” St. Nicholas Academy

 

Senior Individual Documentary

First Place - Audriana Partin, “Threads of Resistance: Native Women Preserving Language and Culture During the Boarding School Era,” Bell County High School

Second Place - Bella Inskeep, “Comfort Women: Reactions to Wartime Atrocities,” St. Patrick School

Third Place - Reagan Day, “Dinner, Debt, and Decisions: How the Compromise of 1790 Reformed America,” Bell County High School

 

Senior Group Documentary

First Place - Vivaan Bhaskar, Harshan Karthik, Yashmit Sadhir, Aiden Song, and Aws Yousef, “Sputnik: A Turning Point in American History,” Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

Second Place - Tomoki Balchunas and Aarush Kikani, “Reform ignites revolution: The story of Nicaragua and the Sandinistas,” Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

 

Senior Individual Exhibit

First Place - Avery Heffernan, “The Code After the Crime,” Mercy Academy

Second Place - London Taylor Winston, “African American History: The Children’s March in Birmingham,1963,” Christian County High School

Third Place - Ella Colley, “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports”: How Title IX Transformed the Landscape of Women in Sports, Hopkinsville High School

 

Senior Group Exhibit

First Place - Gabriela Cedano and Millaray Galdean, “Coalition of Change: How African American, Latino, and Working-Class Communities Transformed Activism The First Rainbow Coalition-1969,” Christian County High School

Second Place - Ryan Butler and Elliot Ferguson, “The March on Frankfort,” Hopkinsville High School

Third Place - Gavin Hopkins, Daniel Miracle, Eric Ogan, and Ian Saylor, “Code Napoleon,” Bell County High School

 

Senior Paper

First Place - Olivia Eisert, “Public Opinion in the Vietnam War”

Second Place - Jack Gill, “To Err Is Human, So Design for It: The Mid-Twentieth-Century Revolution That Reframed Blame and Reformed Safety,” Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

Third Place - Madison Campbell, “‘Power to the People': The Revolutionary Impact of the Black Panther Party," Christian County High School

 

Senior Group Performance

First Place - Xiaoshi Huang, Rhea Pradeep, Aryan Rana, and Sahana Sivakumar, “Voices of Vietnam,” Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

Second Place - Eliyah Burchfield, Sophie Frazier, and Emily Langford, “Voices for Victory: Women’s Suffrage,” Bell County High School

 

Senior Individual Website

First Place - Kinzley Barrett, “Boogie Wonderland: How the Disco Revolution Shaped a Lasting Space of Liberation,” Madison Southern High School

Second Place - Caroline Adkins, “George Washington: Revolutionary Resignations,” Paducah Tilghman High School

 

Senior Group Website

First Place - Akshay Bassetti Nayakwadi and Aryav Shigaonkar, “Meiji Restoration,” Paul Laurence Dunbar High School