Three Westerville middle school students were honored by the Westerville City Schools Board of Education for their success at the National History Day contest, which took place in June at the University of Maryland in College Park. Following the theme, “Exploration, Exchange, Encounter,” Ema Rennie (Genoa Middle School) created a junior paper titled Nellie Bly; Kyra Lesmerises (Genoa) entered her junior individual website, Viola Liuzzo; and Antonia Mapes (Walnut Springs) was recognized for her junior paper, called Frederic Putnam: Excavating the Serpent Mound. Their teachers – Deanna McDaniel, Kyra Lesmerises, Tammy Saltzmann and Pat Schirtzinger – were thanked for inspiring these pupils to excel to their greatest potential.