Connecticut History Day Scholars
Descend on Storrs
The University of Connecticut and the Office of Early College Programs is proud to support Connecticut History Day (CHD), an enriching program that empowers students to explore the past through in-depth research and critical thinking. This year’s theme, “Rights & Responsibilities in History”, resonates deeply with UConn’s mission to cultivate an informed, engaged citizenry committed to upholding democratic values. By encouraging students to investigate the historical struggles for rights and the responsibilities that accompany them, UConn and Connecticut History Day together help nurture the next generation of civic-minded leaders ready to contribute meaningfully to their
communities and beyond.
On Saturday, March 29th, UConn Storrs hosted 25 schools comprised of 29 educators and 468 students for the Mansfield Regional Connecticut History Day Contest. In total, 4,106 students participated in Connecticut History Day contests this year, with the State Contest held at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) on Saturday, May 3rd.
Cyndee McManaman, the Mansfield Regional Coordinator, wrote: “While we have quite the growing library of resources on the CHD website, the workshops are a powerful tool to support our educators and students. It’s so exciting for me to travel to
different classrooms and work with our History Day participants! Seeing history through the eyes of our students, and understanding their passion for what they’ve learned, is inspiring!”
Several Mansfield Region students received awards or recognition at the National History Day Contest held at the University of
Maryland-College Park June 9-13, 2025.
MEDALS
Seniors Amanda Zadnik and Simonne Thibeault (E.O. Smith High School) finished third in Senior Group Exhibit, “Rewarded by Death: How Operation Columba Exemplifies the Rights and Responsibilities of Civilians in Wartime”
SPECIAL PRIZES
Julianne Pashe and Katie Smith (Ellington Middle School) received the World War II History Prize for their Junior Group Exhibit “Civilian Public Service Camps: The Compromise between Personal Rights and National Responsibility”
Vivaan Pandey and Vyom Kadegaonkar (Timothy Edwards Middle School) received the George Washington Leadership in History Award for their Junior Group Documentary, “Shays’ Rebellion: The Uprising that Shaped a Nation”
AWARDS
Bhaavni Kirshna (South Windsor High School) was awarded the Outstanding CT Award (Senior Division), finishing 7th place overall with her Senior Individual Performance “Noor Inayat Khan: A Responsibility to Resist”
FINALISTS
Lillian Magnoli (Timothy Edwards Middle School) 4th place Junior Paper, “Don’t Call Her a Business Woman; Call Her a Woman in Business; Beatrice Fox Auerbach’s Pioneering View of Rights and Responsibilities in History”
Emma Hennessey, Emma O’Brien and Lily Flynn (Timothy Edwards Middle School) 10th place Junior Group Performance, “The Abolitionist Who Never Stopped Writing: The Liberator’s Fight for Anti-Slavery”
Aarna Jaggi (Timothy Edwards Middle School) 10th place Junior Individual Website, “A Line in the Sand, A River of Blood: The Partition that Stole Millions of Rights”
Salma Hassan and Sohyla Hassan (Madina Academy) 9th Place Junior Group Website, “Luminous Lives, Remarkable Legacy: The Radium Girls’ Fight for Workplace Rights and Employer Responsibilities”
Salma Mahmoud, Sidra Bedir, Tasneem Zoghol and Zainah Khaliq (Madina Academy) 9th place Senior Group Performance “Nellie Bly, Asylum Spy: Exposing the Abuse of Patient Rights and Neglect of Medical Responsibilities”
Faqiha Faheem, Noora Mahmoud and Sarah Elsherbini (Madina Academy) 9th place Senior Group Website “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: From Tragedy to Reform”
HONORABLE MENTION (Top 20)
Kalyani Tihaiya and Mia Chen (E. O. Smith High School) Senior Group Performance “From California’s Campuses to Communities: Asian Student Activists’ Fight for Inclusivity”
Jacob Brown (Rockville High School) Senior Individual
Exhibit “Sheff v. O’Neill: Equal Education in Connecticut”
Noor Hassan (Madina Academy) Senior Individual Website “Rights Denied, Responsibilities Betrayed: The Veiled Injustice of the Untreated Syphilis Study”
It is important to remember that the National History Day is not just a day, but an experience. Once students met with judges, they enjoyed a myriad of activities ranging from button trading to an Ice Cream Social and a day spent in Washington D.C. where the group met Senators Blumenthal and Murphy and toured the Capitol. Avner Wilson-Spiro from Wilton High School was one of only ten students invited to participate in the prestigious writers workshop at the White House. Jacob Brown from Rockville High School
represented CT with his exhibit on Sheff v. O’Neill at the National Museum of American History as part of a daylong display of 47 History Day projects.