Students Advance to National History Day

Students from Valley View High School and Vista Heights Middle School have advanced to the National History Day competition after champion performances at the state level. The students will represent MVUSD at the competition June 10 through 14 in College Park, Maryland.  The theme for the year is “Conflict and Compromise in History.” Students selected a historical topic that relates to the annual theme, then conduct extensive research by using libraries, archives, museums, and oral history interviews. They analyze and interpret their findings, draw conclusions about the significance of their topics in history, and create final projects to present their work.  “We could not be more proud of the students who will represent Moreno Valley Unified School District at National History Day,” said School Board Clerk Cleveland Johnson, “They have spent an exhaustive amount of time preparing and we are so happy the payoff is the chance to present to a national audience.”  In addition, Vista Heights Middle School teacher Autumn Earle-Rodriguez was awarded the junior division California Teacher of the Year. The winners advancing to National History Day are:  Valley View High School • Mitchell Calderilla, Alondra Mendez-Acosta, Jade Moreno, Ariana Bazile, Mark Valdez  Champion Senior Group Performance A Conflict Concerning Unequal Rights Amongst Workers: The Disney Animators' Strike  Coach: Jeanine Lopez, Corey Moore  Vista Heights Middle School • Thiana Aklikokou  Champion Junior Paper Baton Rouge Bus Boycott: The Mark that Could Not be Erased Coach: Aurelio Cortez  Other awards for MVUSD students at the state competition:  Vista Heights Middle School • Kathie Sanchez,Aniela Osorio  Runner-Up Group Website Nullification Conflict: How Tariffs Divided the Nation Coach: Aurelio Cortez  Canyon Springs High School • Gelyca Arce • Dulce Arce Coach: Aurelio Cortez, Diane Donald  Honorable Mention Senior Group Exhibit From the Conflict Over Investiture to the Compromise Over Power: A Handshake Between King and Pope Valley View High School • Luke Baxter • Juan Hernandez • Alyssa Meador • Haley Davis  Honorable Mention Senior Group Performance The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler: The Mother Of The Holocaust Children Coach: Jeanine Lopez, Corey Moore  Finalists  • (Group Exhibit) Creation and Adoption of the Declaration of Independence Maryam Alturki • Asia Holmes • Vista Heights Middle School • (Group Website) Ronald Reagan and the Berlin Wall Fiona Wee Eng • Tharushi Jayasinghe • Palm Middle School • (Individual Performance) The Conflict and Compromise of the 1933 Los Angeles Women's Garment Strike • Liliana Valle-Arredondo • Vista Heights Middle School • (Individual Website) Lines in the Sand: Conflicts and Comprises in the Gulf War Brianna Thornley • Vista Heights Middle School