From left, teacher Matt Gill, Crystal Chavez, Kelsey Shultz, Kirsten Gilchrist, Maile Altier and Kalee Sager represented Lahaina Intermediate School at the Hawaii History Day State Fair.

WEST MAUI — Students from across Hawaii met at Windward Community College in April to participate in the Hawaii History Day State Fair.

The academic competition involves more than 8,000 students statewide, who develop research projects based on a yearly theme.

Sacred Hearts School entered ten projects with 12 students participating: sixth-graders Jamie Advincula, Kieran Clark, Krystal Han and Joshua Schwartlow; seventh-graders Reanna Lallo, Kaile Stockham, Teak McAfee and Miyana Wagner; and eighth-graders Isabella Jorgensen, Stephanie Lawless, Kimberlie Nguyen and Rachel Nguyen.

At the event, two projects qualified to compete at National History Day on June 13-17 at the University of Maryland: Schwartzlow’s website entitled “The Printing Press: Savior of Hawaii’s Language,” and McAfee’s documentary called “FDR’s Fireside Chats: Revolutionizing the Way Political Leaders Use Technology.”

This will be Joshua’s first time competing at the national level, but the contest will be Teak’s second trip to participate at National History Day.

Three Maui Preparatory Academy students also advanced to National History Day. Evan Blumer, Nathan O’Hanlon and Devon Bloss’ documentary on the barcode was one of two films chosen to represent Hawaii.

History Day is a nationwide competition that makes history come alive for America’s youth by engaging them in the discovery of historic, cultural and social experiences of the past.

Through hands-on experiences and presentations, today’s youth are better able to inform the present and shape the future.