Fourteen Linkhorne Middle School and Dearington Elementary School for Innovation students placed in the 2025 Virginia History Day (VHD) state contest in Richmond on April 26 and 27. Eight Linkhorne Middle students will advance to the National History Day competition from June 8-12 at the University of Maryland.
Each of these students spent months researching historical topics of interest and presenting their findings using creative approaches and various forms of media. This interdisciplinary research project helped students develop critical thinking and literacy skills while connecting with historical events and concepts. This year’s theme is “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” Overall, 40 LCS students qualified for states by placing in the district competition in March.
The following students qualified for the national competition after placing first or second in their categories at the state level:
- Aria Gugliotta, Mac Morrison, and Clayton Cox, Linkhorne Middle: First place, Junior Group Exhibit. Topic: “The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall”
- Harmony Spinner, Josi Hall, Waverly Thomasey, Eleanor Fontaine, and Eve Flavin, Linkhorne Middle: Second place in the Junior Group Website category and Junior Division Winner of the Mary Bicouvaris Award in Virginia History. Topic: “Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County”
The following students placed in the state competition:
- Ryzon Vasquez and Virginia Blair, Linkhorne Middle: Fourth place, Junior Group Exhibit. Topic: “Loving v. Virginia: The Right to Love”
- Kamran Horsley, Jacobi Goode, and Keegan Bush, Dearington Elementary: Fourth place, Youth/Elementary Group Exhibit. Topic: “Jackie Robinson
- Leo Kudlich, Dearington Elementary: Fourth place, Youth/Elementary Individual Exhibit. Topic: “Adolph Hitler and The Holocaust”
LCS teachers also won awards for leading the charge to help students succeed in their VHD endeavors. Dearington Elementary teacher Janet Bates won the Brenton S. Halsey Teaching Excellence Award. Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation teacher Michael Brosmer won the VHD District 1 Teacher of the Year Award.