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Divya Takkellapati / Provided photo

Thirteen Mason students earned honors at the National History Day in Ohio contest held Saturday at The Ohio State University.

The History Day competition challenges students to research historical topics related to an annual theme.  This year’s theme was “Turning Points in History.”

Twenty-nine Mason students were invited to submit projects at the state level.  Of those, two were named national finalists, two national alternates, three honorable mentions and two special awards.

Mason sophomore Divya Takkellapati was named a national finalist for her paper, “The Lady with the Lamp: The Start of a Revolution in Healthcare.”

Mason Middle School seventh-grader Ahalya Ramesh was named a national finalist in the junior individual exhibit category with her paper, “The Discovery of Insulin: A Second Chance for the sugar Sickness.”

Both girls will go on to compete against the top national students June 9-13 at the National History Day contest in College Park, Md.

Two students received special prizes:  Mohamed Elzarka, a Mason High School student, won the Ohio Academy of History award for his paper, “The Hijrah: The Impact of a Journey,” while Mason Middle School student Vineet Sai Prasad won the American Founding Award-Ashbrook Center for Public Affair award for his paper, “Declaration of Independence: A Document of our Past.”

Ahalya Ramesh / Provided photo

Mason Middle School students Chinmay Bakshi, Sritej Devineni and Vardhan Avasarala were named national alternates.  Chinmay’s paper addressed “The India and Pakistan Partition” while Sritjej and Vardhan collaborated on a website on the “Cuban Missile Crisis.”

Mason High School students Gokul Muruganantham, Sai Madichetty and Shreetej Reddy and Mason Middle School students Ranjani Ramasubramanian Atneya Nair and Tristan Groenewold received honorable mentions.

This year’s crop of students marks the school’s strongest showing in several years and is the third consecutive year a Mason student has advanced to the national contest, said team adviser Dan Langan.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Ahalya Ramesh, contest, Divya Takkellapati, history day, mason high school, mason middle school, national history day in ohio

Mason Schools is looking for volunteers to serve as judges at its annual History Day competition.

The popular event for middle and high school students is set for the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Mason Middle School. Judges will evaluate student projects to determine which students advance to the regional competition on March 31.

“Although a passion for history is always appreciated, judges who have experience in research, the visual arts, web design, or those who would just love to see what these spectacular students have created are all welcomed,” said Mason teacher Erin White.

For more information or to volunteer, email White at whiteer@mason.k12.oh.us.

Posted in: Events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: history day, judges, mason high school, mason middle school, volunteers

Mason Middle School students Mekhala Rao, Hannah Than Win, Shreya Nalluri, Irim Aslam, Kusha Ansari, and Bluye Demessie participated in the regional History Day competition.

Seven Mason students will compete at the state History Day competition in Columbus on April 30.

Mason Intermediate School sixth graders Annie McBeath and Kelsey Lewis

The following students qualified to compete based on judging evaluations at the regional competition, held March 12 at Raymond Walters College:

• Mekhala Rao and Hanna Than Win, seventh-grade;
• Bluye Demessie and Raga Maddela, eighth-grade;
• Annie McBeath, sixth-grade;
• Rhea Malhotra and Katie Darrah, sophomores

The History Day competition challenges students to research historical topics related to an annual theme.  This year’s theme was no easy task: Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences.

Topics chosen by students this year range from the 1953 coup in Iran, Brown v. Board of Education, China and US Trade Diplomacy, the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, the Equal Rights Amendment and the Evolution of Democracy in Burma, among others. 

Students then research their selected topic and present their findings in the form of a written research paper or with multimedia elements before a panel of judges.

Other students competing at the regional event include seventh-grader Shreya Nalluri; eighth-graders Irim Aslam and Kusha Ansari and sixth-grader Kelsey Lewis.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: achievement, competition, history day, mason high school, mason intermediate school, mason middle school, raymond walters college, state, students