Alexis Tamayo (left) and Hannah Sheveland (receiving award in photo at right) have qualified to compete at National History Day in Washington, D.C.

LAHAINA – On Saturday, April 16, 12 students from Sacred Hearts School traveled to Oahu to compete at Hawaii History Day. This academic event saw students from across the islands presenting research projects, going through interviews and sharing their knowledge.

According to contest organizers, “A Program of the Hawai’i Council for the Humanities, Hawai’i History Day, an affiliate of National History Day (NHD), is a year-long history education program that invigorates the teaching and learning of history in grades 4-12. It promotes a theme-based, research-centered model for history and civics education. Students present their projects in a display, performance, documentary, essay or web site project. History Day culminates in the presentation and evaluation of these projects at school, district, state and national history days.” (Visit www.hi.nhd.org for information.)

The young scholars from Sacred Hearts School included Jake Compton, Grace Devane, Aliya Harmon, Gabrielle Huliganga, Ava Merrill, Jackie Nguyen, Ashley Nielson, Alexis Nordblom, Hannah Sheveland, Noelle Sheveland, Alexis Tamayo and Kiana Tuttle.

Four students were awarded special cash prizes for their work.

Jake Compton won the Hawaii Heritage Center Award for outstanding projects in local or ethnic history; Hannah Sheveland won the Brandon Family Foundation Award for her outstanding project in intellectual, artistic or literary history; Alexis Tamayo won the Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board Award for her outstanding use of primary sources; and Grace Devane won the Shirley Stern Memorial Trust Award for her outstanding project on Victorians in the world, including 19th century Hawaii and the Pacific.

Of the Sacred Hearts History Day Team, two students won the honor of competing at National History Day in Washington, D.C.

Alexis Tamayo will be presenting her documentary entitled “Pioneer Mill: Growing a Land of Aloha,” and Hannah Sheveland will be performing “Martha Graham: The Human Heart in Motion.”

Both of these scholars will be traveling to Washington, D.C., in June to compete against students from across the nation as well as Department of Defense schools from around the world.

This is the 13th time in 15 years that Sacred Hearts School has advanced to national competition.