Paterson students advance their projects to state history competition
By Jayed Rahman
Published: April 24, 2018
The treaty that eventually created the European Union. The intractable conflict in the Levant that confounds the brightest minds. And the airlift over Berlin that halted the spread of communism to western Europe.
These are just some of the topics of 10 projects by Paterson students from five district schools that have advanced to the state National History Day competition.
Young people from the Paterson Academy for the Gifted and Talented at School 28; International High School; John F. Kennedy High School’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); School of Government and Public Administration (GOPA) at Eastside High School; and School of Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism (CAHTS) at Eastside High School successfully competed at the regional National History Day competition — this year’s theme is Conflict and Compromise in History — held on Mar. 17 at Seton Hall University.
“It is amazing to watch them research and present projects they are so passionate about,” said Matthew Caruso, social studies teacher at International High School, who described participation in the history competition as an “unforgettable experience” for students.
Students Fabeha Chowdhury, Maria Chowdhury, Nishat Hossain, Emily Cruz, and Rezyona Uddin of International High School sought primary sources for their documentary project “The Iranian Hostage Crisis: A Test of Humanity and Diplomacy.”
The students interviewed survivors of the crisis and contacted former U.S. president Jimmy Carter for his reflection on the crisis that foreclosed his hopes for a second term. Their hard work got them to the state competition.
The other winning documentary project was the “The Paterson Silk Workers’ Strike of 1913: Labor Strife in America” by Abbas Helal and Rafael Rodriguez, 7th graders at the Paterson Academy for the Gifted and Talented at School 28.
Rest of the winning projects were exhibits:
- “The Berlin Candy Bomber: Healing Conflict One Parachute at a Time” by Eliana Morales, an 11th grader at the School of Government and Public Administration (GOPA) at Eastside High School.
- “’First Do No Harm’ The Ethical Compromises of Dr. John Cutler” by Sienna Rojas, an 11th grader at the School of Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism (CAHTS) at Eastside High School.
- “Salem Witch Trials” by 10th graders Anika Anderson, Ashanee Jackson, Athziri Castellanos, and Keila Gonzalez of the School of Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism (CAHTS) at Eastside High School.
- “The Quest for Exoneration: The Conflict of the Meeropols” by Rashel Penson, Kayla Santiago, Xavier Vidals, 11th graders from the School of Government and Public Administration; and the School of Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism at Eastside High School.
- “The Treaty of Rome 1957: Europe Learns to Compromise” by Katherine Cassarrubias, 10th grader at John F. Kennedy High School’s Academy of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
- “Dryden & Blagonravov: Cooperation in the Midst of Conflict” by Maliah Yeasmin, Shubon Husan, and Nafisa Yeasmin of John F. Kennedy High School’s Academy of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
- “The Search for Peace between Palestine and Israel” by Tasneem Abdulazee, 8th grader at the Paterson Academy for the Gifted and Talented at School 28.
- And “The Harlem Hellfighters: The Fight for the Right to Fight” by Angela Alvarez and Isabela Gonzalez, 8th graders from the Paterson Academy for the Gifted and Talented at School 28.
“I am extremely proud of these students and wish them the very best in the next round of competition,” said superintendent Eileen Shafer. “They have already shown that they are among the best and brightest of their generation; and through the skills cultivated by competing in this event, they are better prepared for success in college and career.”
The state competition will be held on May 5 at William Paterson University in Wayne.
The winners of the state competition will move to the nationals scheduled to take place at the University of Maryland, College Park on Jun. 10 through Jun. 14, 2018.
Email: [email protected]