Kern’s National History winners

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Fruitvale Jr. High’s Marissa Manos, Bianca Hinojosa, Ramneet Sahota, Sameen Bramer and Calvin Laverty were the best in the nation with their portrayal of Sylvia Mendez’ fight to end segregation in California schools.

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Centennial High’s Sarah Moore received honors as the third best documentarian in the nation with her thorough examination of how Chiune Sugihara helped Jewish refugees escape Europe during World War II.

Five students from Bakersfield’s Fruitvale Jr. High School — Marissa Manos, Ramneet Sahota, Bianca Hinojosa, Calvin Laverty and Sameen Bramer — finished first in the junior division group performance category at National History Day which concluded June 18 at the University of Maryland. Their entry, “Sylvia Mendez: The Legacy of a Young Girl’s Fight for Equality in Education,” was judged the best out of 14 finalists from 12 states. Kern County also had another finalist, Centennial High School’s Sarah Moore, whose senior division individual documentary, “Silently Leaving a Legacy: The Actions of Chiune Sugihara,” was judged third best in the nation.

“Once they said Bakersfield had won, I screamed so loudly I didn’t even hear all our names being called,” said Sahota. “I thought we had done a good performance, and lots of people who saw it assured us we would be in the top three. But this is nationals, we just didn’t expect it.”

The Fruitvale team’s performance was based on a child of Mexican descent who was denied admission to a school near her Orange County home because of segregation. The family took the case to court, and their 1947 victory helped desegregate public schools in California.

“We got to interview Sylvia Mendez and found out what it was like for her to go through that time in history,” Bramer said. “The whole research experience was very fulfilling, and I would recommend getting involved in History Day to any student. Everything about it will help prepare them for college and every day life tasks, such as scheduling interviews. For me, winning was really huge. I’ve won at state and at the local Oral Language Festival. Nothing compares to winning on a national stage.”

Moore, who improved on a ninth place finish at nationals last year, said the result was both “exciting and overwhelming.” Her documentary focused on a Japanese diplomat assigned to Lithuania who was responsible for issuing transit visas to more than 2,100 Jewish refugees escaping from Europe during World War II. “This was a fun project because I got to interview lots of people who knew Sugihara and received visas from him which allowed them to immigrate to the U.S.,” Moore said. “I wish more students would be able to do this. To do your own research and speak with people who have lived history first hand is one of the most valuable experiences you will ever have in life.”

Kern County was also represented at National History Day by another Fruitvale Jr. High group performance team that included Aaliyah Beed, Dylan Gonzales, Richard Sotille, Gabriela Forter and Madison Olinger. Their entry was “Elie Wiesel: A Survivor’s Legacy, A Messenger for Mankind.” Fruitvale Jr. High’s Anne Bardet represented the county at nationals with her junior division individual exhibit, “Mother Teresa: A Light in the Darkness.”

Nationally, approximately 500,000 students and 40,000 teachers annually participate in National History Day programs. More than 2,000 students from across the country attend the national contest (from 48 states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense Schools and American Samoa). Kern County’s students had to win at the Kern County History Day competition, sponsored by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools on March 7, then prove victorious over the best in the state at History Day in California held in Sacramento on May 3 to be eligible to compete at National History Day.


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