Vista Heights Middle School State Co-champions Headed for National History Day Competition by MVUSD - City News Group, Inc.

Community Calendar

MARCH
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Vista Heights Middle School State Co-champions Headed for National History Day Competition

By MVUSD,
June 4, 2014 at 09:26am. Views: 22

Vista Heights Middle School students Samuel Hornaday and Maddison Zipper will travel to the University of Maryland in June to take part in the National History Day competition. The two eighth-graders were declared Co-Champions at the State History Day event in Riverside and have each earned the honor of representing the Golden State June 15-19 in the Individual Exhibit category. Their work, in the Junior Division, was selected after intense competition at the district, regional and state levels. National History Day requires students to explore historical topics by analyzing and interpreting sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ importance in history. Students spend months researching in libraries, archives and museums. They are also encouraged to conduct oral history interviews. “Working with Sam and Maddison has been a real treat because they are brilliant and hard workers,” said teacher Aurelio Cortez, the students’ History Day advisor. “But more important, they are good kids, and very determined students who aren’t satisfied with being state champions. They want to win it all.” Hornaday’s project evaluated President Ulysses S. Grant’s response to the Ku Klux Klan; he interviewed a world-renowned historian, a National Park Ranger, and even the current Imperial Wizard of the KKK. He has begun collecting memorabilia from the era, such as a coin from 1885 commemorating the life of President Grant, and an Electoral Ticket from the 1872 election. Zipper delved into the issue of students’ constitutional rights at school by analyzing the Tinker v. Des Moines Supreme Court case (1969), which concerned students who were suspended for wearing black armbands to school in protest against the Vietnam War. Zipper chose this topic after being inspired by an exhibit she saw at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. "Participation in History Day competitions offers benefits to students that extend far beyond the event," explained MVUSD History Day Program Facilitator Jo Ann Gillespie. “Recently, one of my former students, who now attends UC Berkeley, spoke to my class and he told them that History Day was one of the most important school experiences that prepared him for success at college.” For more information about National History Day, visit www.nhd.org.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: CalKIDS

By Vanessa Vizard, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 377

An event staff member assists an attendee at the CalKIDS check-in table, helping her register and sharing information as community resources are made available.

Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By William Cortez, Community Writer

February 10, 2026 at 03:03pm. Views: 641

A job seeker speaks with a representative at a Business & Employment Resource Center (BERC) booth during a career fair, where employers share information and resources with attendees in a bright indoor venue.

Photo Courtesy of: ChatGPT (AI-generated)

By Ruby Stephenson, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 737

AI-rendered image: Community members, families, and children gather outside the boarded entrance of Moreno Valley Mall, where signs posted on the doors read “Mall Closed,” illustrating the impact of a temporary shutdown on local residents.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 386

CSHS Athlete of the Week: Abubacarr Saidy

Photo Courtesy of: Elci Photography

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 992

“Chuck” William Cecil and his wife, Beverly Cecil, stand proudly with Johan Gallo, Grand Terrace Cars & Coffee's coordinator, as they are recognized for their long-standing dedication and support of Grand Terrace Cars & Coffee

Photo Courtesy of: Congressman Pete Aguilar

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 420

House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar represents the 33rd Congressional District of California. He is the keynote speaker at The Democratic Luncheon Club of San Bernardino’s 32nd Annual Banquet and Installation of Officers.

Photo Courtesy of: City of San Bernardino, Instagram: IE Voice

By Ruby Stephenson, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:50pm. Views: 620

A bright red and gold dragon costume weaves through a crowd of smiling adults and children at an outdoor festival, as performers lean down to interact with attendees during a lively dragon dance.

Photo Courtesy of: Designed by Freepik

By Charmaine Mislang, Community Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:48pm. Views: 540

Two students stand in a library, looking down at an open book together, with shelves of books visible in the background.
Over the past year, Redlands Unified has relied on Administrative Regulation 1312.2 – Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials, a policy adopted by the Board of Education on Aug. 19, 2025, to guide how concerns about library and instructional materials are reviewed.

Photo Courtesy of: VA Loma Linda

By Stephen K. Robinson, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:49pm. Views: 644

Exterior view of the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center, a large beige multi-story building with blue window accents. Three flagpoles displaying the American flag and military service flags stand in front of the entrance, surrounded by landscaped grass, rocks, and a small water feature.

Photo Courtesy of: Youtube: SBS Probation

By William Cortez, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:49pm. Views: 474

An indoor workshop scene shows teaching artists, M. Ahofi and J. Lee of PMHU, seated and playing guitar and cello, while others observe in the background. The photo is depicted with a blue, on-screen banner reading, “Mapping Progress: Project: Music Heals Us.”

Photo Courtesy of: ChatGPT (AI-generated)

By Tracy Calentti, Contributing Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:49pm. Views: 831

An AI-rendered image showing a person wearing a hood and gloves removing a property tax payment envelope from a blue mail drop box during low light conditions.

Photo Courtesy of: Jsmithwikigt, Wikipedia

By Charmaine Mislang, Community Writer

February 24, 2026 at 01:49pm. Views: 507

City of Grand Terrace images from top, left to right - Grand Terrace City Hall, Blue Mountain Trail, Northeast City Entrance, Historical Plaque, Veterans Wall of Freedom.

--> -->