It’s been a winning pre-spring season at WRA, including in the academic arena. Today at Morning Meeting, Social Science Department faculty member and Paul & Elinor Roundy Chair in History and Literature Sarah Horgan shared the exciting news of Pioneer success at this year’s National History Day Regional Contest. Under Horgan’s stewardship, and as a requirement of their CL US History and Government Class, WRA students have become perennial winners in the annual competition, which this year was themed around the concept of turning points in history.

WRA had eight winners at regionals, held on March 2 at Case Western University, the educational institution that founded National History Day 50 years ago. Calling it a “science fair for the humanities,” Horgan described students’ impressive projects across papers, films and webpages. 

These six winners will represent WRA at the State National History Day competition on April 20 at Capitol University in Columbus, OH. 

In the Website Category:   

• 2nd Prize went to Riya Hegde ’25 for her website: "The Hyde Amendment: A Turning Point in Women's Struggle for Reproductive Freedom in America."
• 1st Prize went to Addie Lewis ’25 for her website titled: "The Forgotten Child: The Indian Child Welfare Act as a Turning Point in US History."

In the Documentary Film Category:

• 2nd Prize went to Xochi Nandi ’25 for her film titled: "Emmett Till: Echoes of Justice."
• 1st Prize went to Brenna Pethel ’25 for her film titled: "Beyond the Bases: The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League."

In the Research Paper Category:  

• 3rd Prize went to Wynn Harward ’24 for her paper titled: "An Uphill Battle: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Controversial Landscape of Women's Reproductive Rights in the United States."
• 1st Prize went to Loretta Wang ’25 for her paper titled: "A Seat for Justice: Rosa Parks and the Genesis of a Movement."

In the Special Prize Category: 

(these students win a cash prize but do not advance to the State round):

• The Early Settlers Association of Cleveland Prize was won by Claire Brown ’25 for her research paper titled: "The Day the War Came Home: The Kent State Shootings is a Turning Point in History."
• The Cleveland Greys Armory Association Award for Military Research was won by Harley Gu ’25 for his website titled: "Turning Point in History: Intellectual Immigration during WWII.” 
• The Frank Tesh Award for Research and Writing given by the Cleveland Greys Armory was won by Brooke Bauck ’25 for her paper titled: "Japanese American Internment during World War II:  Violating the Constitution.” 
• Harley and Brooke are invited to present their research at the spring meetings of the organizations where scholars are celebrated. 

Horgan said, “We want students to become historians, not just students of history.” With accolades for hard work earned, and more assuredly on the horizon, Pioneers are blazing paths in the humanities and making the entire community proud.