Four IUSD students took top honors at the prestigious 2025 National History Day national competition. Under the theme “Rights and Responsibilities in History,” this year’s National History Day competition celebrated academic excellence by encouraging students to delve into historical research, present their findings compellingly, and connect the past to the present.
In the Junior Group Website category, two Sierra Vista Middle School projects won top honors, taking home first and third place.
First Place
Shawn Castrapel, Max Castrapel
Rights and Responsibilities: The Hetch Hetchy Dam and Its Environmental Impact
Sierra Vista Middle School
Third Place
Joseph Featherstone, Christine Jeon
The Thalidomide Tragedy: Rights of Consumers’ Healthcare and Responsibilities of the Manufacturer
Sierra Vista Middle School
Both projects were supported by teacher Lianne Linck, whose guidance helped these young historians research and analyze history to create compelling digital projects.
In addition to the winning teams, nine IUSD projects competed on the national stage, showcasing their historical inquiry and prowess.
“Our students' creative use of storytelling and deep dive into historical research should be held in the highest esteem,” stated IUSD Coordinator of History-Social Science, Content Literacy, and World Languages Blair Pador. “They have critically examined the impact of decisions made by those in positions of power and elevated the stories of the community affected. Their work is inspiring and a model of what it means to be civically engaged."
Congratulations to all participants from IUSD for their outstanding achievements at the 2025 National History Day competition.
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