The Westerville City Council recognized three Westerville City Schools students for their 2022 National History Day projects that advanced to the national contest in June.
During the Sept. 20 meeting, Mayor Diane Conley and council members presented certificates to Julianna Trudden, Emilea Gilbert and Fraser Hartnell for their achievements.
Trudden and Gilbert — now ninth-graders at Westerville Central High School — earned second place in the Junior Group Exhibit category for the exhibit, “Barbed Wire Country.” They were both students in Leslie Thompson’s advanced social studies class who worked with Deanna McDaniel at Genoa Middle School last year.
Hartnell, now a seventh-grader at Walnut Springs Middle School, earned first place in the Junior Individual Exhibit category for his research and exhibit project, “The Diplomatic Failures that Sparked WW1 and WW2” while in Jeffrey Holmes’ advanced social studies class last year.
“This is great recognition from Westerville City Council for the hard work and the success that these students achieved,” McDaniel, a media specialist at Genoa, said. “One percent of all competitors make it to the national level.”
Students participating in National History Day learn critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, research and reading skills and self-esteem and confidence — all while creating projects that are meaningful to them. More than half a million students participate annually.
Watch the presentation here at the 10:20 mark.