Courtesy photo Ross A. Lurgio Middle School students at the competition. Back row, from left, are Emet Baker, Sri Chetlur, Vidhur Narayan and Nikhil Gottemukkala. Front row, from left, are Jessie O’Leary, Jamie Karr, Sarah Avampato, Roisi Russell.

After months of research and hard work, four groups from Ross A. Lurgio Middle School won awards at the National History Day New Hampshire State Competition at Plymouth State University on April 2. Those placing first or second in their division have the honor of representing the state of New Hampshire at the national level. The national competition will be held June 11-15 at the University of Maryland in College Park.

For the group performance junior division, Emet Baker, Sri Chetlur, Vidhur Narayan and Nikhil Gottemukkala took first place for their entry, Breaking the Color Barrier: John Howard Griffin’s Impact on Defeating Racial Discrimination. For the individual historical paper junior division, Sarah Avampato took second place for her entry, Tiananmen Square, An Intellectual Protest and Jamie Karr placed third for her entry, Freedom is Not Free: The Story of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose.

Jessie O’Leary and Roisi Russell took home the National Archives and Records Administration Award for Outstanding Use of Primary Sources.

National History Day is a yearlong educational program, devoted to increasing young people’s knowledge and appreciation of history. This years theme was Take a Stand in History. Students presented research through exhibits, documentaries, websites, or research papers.

More than $150,000 worth of scholarships are awarded at the national awards ceremony and approximately 100 students will take home cash prizes between $250 and $5,000.

– Submitted by Ross A. Lurgio Middle School