National Contest
2022 Medalists
1st place in Junior Individual Exhibit
Student: Sarah Tilberg
Teacher and School: Le Mars Middle School
Title: “A Ray of Compassion: Debate and Diplomacy of the Indochinese Refugees”
1st Place in Senior Individual Website
Student: Caleb Sinnwell (received full scholarship to the National History Academy)
Teacher and School: Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
Title: “Khrushchev, Corn, and Cold War Diplomacy: Garst Grows Relations with Russia One Ear at a Time”
3rd Place in Junior Group Documentary
Students: Melissa Fairbanks, Reegan McKee, Nathan Schoenfelder and Peyton Small
Teacher and School: Val Philips, Akron-Westfield Middle School
Title: "‘Tell Me and I May Forget; Show Me and I May Not Remember; Involve Me and I Will Understand’: The Story of the Osage”
2022 Finalists
Junior Group Documentary
Students: Lilah Rasche and Lucy Wolf
Teacher and School: Deb Temperly, Bettendorf Middle School
Title: “Failed Diplomacy in the Black Hills: The Ongoing Debate for the Sioux Nation's Sacred Land”
Junior Historical Paper
Student: Elexa O’Neill
Teacher and School: Suzy Turner, Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior HIgh School
Title: “Herbert Hoover: Humanitarian Hero Halts Hunger Through Food Diplomacy”
Junior Individual Performance
Student: Vivian Searcy
Teacher and School: Patty Lien, St. Benedict Catholic School
Title: “Dorothea Dix: How Debate and Diplomacy Changed the Treatment of Mental Health Patients Forever”
Junior Individual Website
Student: Lillian Frideres
Teacher and School: Randy Davis, Nevada Middle School
Title: “Vietnamese Refugees in Iowa: Ray's Humanitarian and Controversial Relocation”
2022 Special Award Winners
Asian American History Award
Junior Individual Website
Student: Lillian Frideres
Teacher and School: Randy Davis, Nevada Middle School
Title: “Vietnamese Refugees in Iowa: Ray's Humanitarian and Controversial Relocation”
E Pluribus Unum in History Award
Senior Group Documentary
Students: Paige Franzen, Kadence Huck and Callahan Levi
Teacher and School: Suzy Turner, Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
Title: “Out of Their Chairs and Up the Stairs: ADA Now!”
2022 Outstanding Entries
Junior Group Documentary
Students: Lilah Rasche and Lucy Wolf
Teacher: Deb Temperly, Bettendorf Middle School
Title: “Failed Diplomacy in the Black Hills: The Ongoing Debate for the Sioux Nation's Sacred Land”
Senior Group Performance
Students: Aubry Knudtson, Liam Knudtson, Carter Lambert, Maddison Lambert and Gauge Reyes
Teacher and School: Linnea Lambert, Okoboji High School
Title: “Amica Mea, Te Amo: The Fall of the Roman Republic”
2022 Project Showcase Selections
Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture Documentary Showcase
Students: Melissa Fairbanks, Reegan McKee, Nathan Schoenfelder and Peyton Small
Teacher and School: Val Philips, Akron-Westfield Middle School
Title: "‘Tell Me and I May Forget; Show Me and I May Not Remember; Involve Me and I Will Understand’: The Story of the Osage”
Smithsonian National Museum of American History Exhibit Showcase
Students: Yessenia Alvarez Zamora and Leticia Herrera
Teacher and School: Susan Fritzell, Marshalltown High School
Title: “La Huelga: The Struggle That Earned Farm Workers Their Rights”
White House Historical Association Paper Showcase
Student: Elexa O’Neill
Teacher and School: Suzy Turner, Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
Title: “Herbert Hoover: Humanitarian Hero Halts Hunger Through Food Diplomacy”