TEMPLE, Texas — Several Temple High School students made some history of their own when they competed in the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair in Waco last week. The students in that group became the first Temple High School students to compete in the Regional History event.
Eleven students represented Temple High School in the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair, hosted by Baylor University. Those students earned the right to advance to the Regional History Fair after competing in a local showcase with fellow THS students earlier this semester. Student projects at the local showcase were evaluated by a panel of judges to select the qualifiers for the regional event. The Temple High School group not only competed but brought home one medal and three special awards from the competition.
Gabriel Garcia brought home a medal after placing third in the Senior Individual Exhibit. Garcia submitted an exhibit on “Muckrakers and Exposing Child Labor.” Nandini Sreeram was awarded the Baylor Law School Award for the exhibit “Justice on the Trail: The State of Criminal Justice in America.” Viana Nguyen won the Museum Association of Waco Award for the exhibit “August Revolution,” and Precious Isaacs was awarded The Links Incorporated, Waco Chapter Award in Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in the Historical Presentation of African American History or Women’s/Minority Rights. Isaacs presented an exhibit on China’s One Child Policy. All of the students competing for Temple High School are sophomores.
“The National History Day competition allows students to transform original research into a platform for their own voices, as each is able to select a topic of personal interest to explore and present,” said Kaleigh Verett, Advanced Academics Coordinator at Temple HS. “This experience builds a level of confidence and critical thinking that will serve them well beyond the classroom. It was an impressive debut for our sophomores, and seeing their hard work and professional presentations was the highlight of the event. Having four students earn recognition is a true testament to their dedication and a perfect finish to the school’s first regional competition.”
The sponsors for the Temple High School participants were Verett, Josh McCaslin, and Tobin Thurman. The theme for this year’s Heart of Texas Regional History Fair was Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. The regional competition is open to 4-12th grade students across 14 counties in the Central Texas region. The top two finishers in medaled awards categories at the Regional event advance to the State History Fair. From there, students can advance to National History Day held annually in Washington, D.C.