Student Stories from Connecticut History Day
Close to 4,000 students representing 113 Connecticut schools created a History Day project in 2017. Fifteen hundred students participated in one of six Regional Contests. Our students have achieved amazing successes with their projects, and are proud to share what they have done.
Middle school student Dante DiMartino's History Day paper on Winston Churchill took him all the way to the National Contest. While there, he received a special tour of the new National Churchill Library & Center on the campus of George Washington University and his paper was published in the Churchill Bulletin.
"Competing in Connecticut History Day has truly been the best experience I have ever had. This upcoming year will be my fifth year doing CHD. Through my individual performances, I learned so many lessons from historical figures. From Alice Paul, I learned that I have a voice - I can stand up for myself and make my voice heard. CHD has changed my life, made me a stronger & better person, and has given me real world experiences that I will carry with me."
Lindsay Moynihan, Conard High School
Lindsay Moynihan, Conard High School
“Through Connecticut History Day I received the most valuable preparation for college researching and idea-synthesizing skills of any high school project I completed. The skills that History Day provides are applicable to developing critical thinking and growth in any discipline.”
Nicholas Serrambana, 3rd place Senior Individual Performance, National Contest 2014. Nick participated in CHD for six years as a student at Classical Magnet School in Hartford. He made the National Contest four times and made the Final Round each time.
Nicholas Serrambana, 3rd place Senior Individual Performance, National Contest 2014. Nick participated in CHD for six years as a student at Classical Magnet School in Hartford. He made the National Contest four times and made the Final Round each time.
For the past six years, I have actively participated in Connecticut History Day—an incredibly effective program that is integral to true historical learning. Connecticut History Day provides an enriching and unique research experience for students of all backgrounds. From my participation, I have had the opportunity to enhance my skills in networking, interviewing, and primary source research.”
Shay Pezzulo, First Place, Senior Individual Website, National Contest 2016. Shay has represented Connecticut at the National Contest four times. She is a student at Classical Magnet School in Hartford
Shay Pezzulo, First Place, Senior Individual Website, National Contest 2016. Shay has represented Connecticut at the National Contest four times. She is a student at Classical Magnet School in Hartford
“Participating in NHD has meant a lot to me. I was able to pursue an untold story and express it in a way which was unique and exciting. CHD allowed me to work with my friends in creating a project which helped me learn more about this nation’s history as well as the history of Connecticut… it has been one of the greatest projects I've done and an amazing experience.”
Katherine Hurst, member of the group that won Outstanding Connecticut Entry (Senior Division), National Contest 2016. Finished 6th in the nation. A student at Greenwich High School, Katherine participated for the first time in 2016.
Katherine Hurst, member of the group that won Outstanding Connecticut Entry (Senior Division), National Contest 2016. Finished 6th in the nation. A student at Greenwich High School, Katherine participated for the first time in 2016.
“I participated in Connecticut History Day almost every year that I was eligible for the program, and am still involved as a judge at the district and state levels. I learned more participating in the program than I ever did in any class in school. I did learn about historical events, about the underpinnings of our government, and about how the histories and governments of different nations compare and coalesce. More importantly, the project-based nature of NHD taught me to take ownership of my historical investigations and conclusions, to focus on actually contributing to an academic dialogue, and to build my confidence presenting my ideas to others. These lessons have proved invaluable after my graduation from the program. I arrived at Princeton unusually prepared to do college level research in the humanities, and was able to get a job as a research assistant in the politics department and a summer internship conducting research in the history of medicine, predominantly as a result of the skills I learned and projects I completed through NHD. I cannot imagine the person I would be (as a scholar or as a citizen of my state and country) without this program.”
Annabel Barry, was a group member of a team that won: 2015 First Place Senior Group Performance, 2014 Second Place Senior Group Performance, 2013 Third Place Senior Group Performance at the National Contest.
Annabel Barry, was a group member of a team that won: 2015 First Place Senior Group Performance, 2014 Second Place Senior Group Performance, 2013 Third Place Senior Group Performance at the National Contest.
“Participating in CT History Day has been an unforgettable experience incomparable to any other history program I have seen throughout my education. CT History Day gave me the opportunity to perform individual research on special topics that are personally close to me, and allowed me to learn and develop essential skills to perform research at any level. The projects I have presented over the years have impacted me heavily in my presentation skills, communication, and overall behavior as a researcher and presenter. Moreover, being able to meet with so many of my peers who share a massive interest in history as well has given me the ability to make numerous friends and relationships, and has brightened me intellectually and socially. CT History Day has given me an all-rounded positive impact in everything that I do daily, and I am extremely grateful to have been a part of it.”
Prastik Mohanraj, a student at Engineering Science University Magnet School in New Haven, participated in the 2015 and 2016 National Contests.
Prastik Mohanraj, a student at Engineering Science University Magnet School in New Haven, participated in the 2015 and 2016 National Contests.
“Connecticut History Day has been a great experience for me throughout high school. Each year the proposed topic challenges me and my friends to come up with an interesting topic related to the theme. It’s a great extension of what we’re learning in school - we use all of the historical thinking skills we use in our history classes, but we get to apply them to a project that’s meaningful to us. Many students use this as an opportunity to learn about something that doesn’t quite fit into the history curriculum or to delve deeper into something covered briefly in one of our classes, like my group did last year. My group was composed mainly of French students who had discussed French culture in Louisiana a little bit in class. We decided we wanted to have a deeper understanding of not only the aspects of French culture, but also how they got there. So we completed an in-depth study of Le Grand Derangement and the journey of the Cajun people. As a group of four, we were challenged to divide work fairly and communicate well. If one person slacked off it had a ripple effect, so we learned to manage our time well.
While National History Day is a competition, it fosters an environment of learning. Each group takes advantage of the times after judging to look at different presentations, admire the displays, and read up on topics they had never heard about. This year I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the national level of the competition held at the University of Maryland. Many students had displays in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. History Day participants from all over the country walked around and were able to learn about pop art, Louisiana music, and the effects of Title IX. The competition is friendly and I made friends I can share my love for history with.
History Day is a great experience that I can’t wait for my brother to join with me. The skills I have learned are invaluable and the knowledge gives me new perspectives that I will carry throughout my life.”
Ally Barone, Farmington High School. Ally’s group participated in the 2016 National Contest.
While National History Day is a competition, it fosters an environment of learning. Each group takes advantage of the times after judging to look at different presentations, admire the displays, and read up on topics they had never heard about. This year I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the national level of the competition held at the University of Maryland. Many students had displays in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. History Day participants from all over the country walked around and were able to learn about pop art, Louisiana music, and the effects of Title IX. The competition is friendly and I made friends I can share my love for history with.
History Day is a great experience that I can’t wait for my brother to join with me. The skills I have learned are invaluable and the knowledge gives me new perspectives that I will carry throughout my life.”
Ally Barone, Farmington High School. Ally’s group participated in the 2016 National Contest.