Scholars from Los Arboles Middle School and Seaside Middle School had the opportunity to compete in Monterey County History Day hosted by the Lyceum of Monterey County. This year was the first year the competition returned in person since 2020.
Thank you to middle school teachers and coaches Teri Flanders (Los Arboles) and Caitlin Aleru (Seaside) for their commitment and volunteerism to ensure students have the opportunity to pursue academic competitions like National History Day.
At Los Arboles Middle School, scholars had the opportunity to create a History Day project in their social studies classes with Mr. Nick Artinyan, Mr. Paul Wolf, and Ms. Teri Flanders. Seven Los Arboles Middle School scholars took on the challenge of creating an entry for the Monterey County competition, including Israel Johnson, Devin Schwener, Gemma De Ranieri, Mari Zamara, Sunny Pelton, Victoria Scally, and Mary Lamb, and worked tirelessly to complete and showcase their projects.
This year five Los Arboles scholars advanced in the county competition, the most in the school’s history, and will advance to the state competition at Sacramento State University April 15 and April 16. There were also special award winners selected by the Lyceum of Monterey County, and sponsored by various groups in the community.
Los Arboles Middle School Monterey County Winners
Israel Johnson
Junior Group Documentary
Confronting History and Tragedy: Kobe Bryant, A History Making Career and Life
Special award received: Sports in History
Devin Schwener
Junior Individual Exhibit
Confronting the Communist Party: Badiucao’s Peaceful Protest to Save His Country
Special awards received: Peace and Freedom Award and Colonial Dames Award (National Society of the Colonial Dames)
Sunny Pelton
Junior Individual Podcast
Juliane Koepcke & Her 10 Day Nightmare: The Frontier of the Unknown
Special award received: Individual in History Award
Victoria Scally
Junior Individual Performance
Ch-Ch-Changing Music Frontiers: David Bowie and His History Changing Ideas
Special award received: Popular Culture in History Award and Colonial Dames Award (National Society of the Colonial Dames)
Mary Lamb
Junior Individual Performance
The Bad Asses of the Revolution - The Daughters of Liberty: At the Forefront of Freedom
Special award received: Colonial Dames Award (National Society of the Colonial Dames)
At Seaside Middle School, students participated in History Day projects during their flex period elective and worked tirelessly throughout the year to complete and showcase their projects. All three group projects from SMS which competed at the county level advanced to the state competition, and also received special recognition awards.
Seaside Middle School Monterey County Winners
Sophia Villanueva and Soledad Gonzalez Lopez
Junior Group Documentary
Finding the Beginning of the Rainbow: The Stonewall Riot
Special award received: Primary Source Special Recognition Award
William Dunwoody and Oscar Trinidad Salazar
Junior Group Exhibit
Space Fight: The US and USSR Pioneer New Frontiers in Technology
Special awards received: Turning Points in History Award and Technology Award
Sanjana Gahlaut, Roman Nguyen and Mia Michelle Munoz
Junior Group Exhibit
“F*** Tha Police”: N.W.A Confronts Police Brutality
Special awards received: Pop Culture Award and Arts Award
Additionally, two former Seaside Middle School students are also competing in their county or regional competitions at the senior (high school) level. They had the honor of being coached by Seaside Middle School Coach Caitlin Aleru, and they are:
Emily Hernandez
Senior Historical Paper
Frontiers in History: African Americans’ Struggle for Equality
Advanced to the state history day competition in Texas
Sydney Kengne
Senior Historical Paper
Greenwood: A Prominent African American Business District
Will compete in the Riverside County competition on March 11
**Additional photos coming soon.***