Students from El Paso ISD made a notable impact at this spring's Texas History Day competition, held at the University of Texas at Austin, demonstrating their prowess through research, performance, and exhibits, according to El Paso ISD. In a competition that draws over 65,000 Texas students and more than half a million participants nationwide, the young scholars from El Paso showcased their work in various categories, aiming to breathe life into the storied past.
A representative from El Paso ISD shared the news of the students’ achievements with pride, especially those from Hornedo Middle School and Burges High School whose presentations spanned topics from the dark chronicles of Manzanar to the infamous tale of the Titanic, again, the competition seeks to engage students in grades 6–12 with history in a dynamic and personal way, allowing them to explore subjects that are not only academically rigorous but also rich with cultural and societal implications that continue to inform our present.
Amongst the El Paso honorees was a group performance piece titled "The Story of Manzanar, Bounded by Barbed Wire, Drowned in Injustice," which secured fourth place in the Junior Division Group Performance category, with contributions from Ifeomachi Ezewuiro, Luciana Rosales, Abigail DeVora, Paulina Torres, and Yuli Tomita under the guidance of teacher Kristen Shaver of Hornedo Middle School. Additionally, Ellie Smith of the same institution earned Fourth Place for her Junior Division Individual Exhibit titled "Downwinders", directed by teacher Austin Menchaca.
Other accolades included the Best in Region Award for Hornedo Middle School's Temi Aduroja's paper entry, Burges High School students Lynda Lou Valerio, Penelope Feldman, and Natalie Clancy received the Outstanding Regional Entry Award for West Texas in the documentary category the team was coached by Adalberto Guerrero, while the Special Prize for Maritime Projects was awarded to Zenia Martinez of Wiggs Middle School for her paper on the RMS Titanic, guided by teacher Jeanaline Celis; El Paso High School students Gonzague Saldana-Ceberio, Indira Johnson, Jack Nance, and Zuzeth Gonzalez won the Mary Austin Holley Women’s History Award for Senior Division (Websites and Performances) with a project that explored the milestone decision in Roe v. Wade and its consequences on women's rights under the mentorship of teacher Greg Cannon.
