BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT — For the second time in school history, Bethel High School has captured National History Day’s Washington State Championship.  Officially known as the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Outstanding School Award, the “State Cup” belongs to the team whose projects garner the highest total rankings in the finalist round of competition.  Scored like a track meet, Bethel’s point total more than doubled that of the nearest competitor: 34 – 16.  Bethel finished with two, second-place projects, three third-place projects, two fourth-place projects and three fifth-place projects.  Coach Jim Sawatzki remarked, “This is the best History Day team Bethel High has ever produced.  In multiple areas of comparison, the 2013 team far surpasses the state championship team of 2005.”

Bethel High students Taylor Mamaril, Britt McCracken, Tiffany McDaniel, Peyton Schwartz and Lisa Thompson will represent Washington State at the National History Day competition held June 8 – 13, 2013 at the University of Maryland.  Ms. Mamaril and Ms. McCracken qualified with their exhibit – The Boldt Decision, and Ms. McDaniel, Ms. Schwartz and Ms. Thompson with their play – Margaret Sanger.  This year’s competition theme is: Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events. Bethel High School qualified ten of nineteen of its Washington State National History Day projects for finals judging Saturday, May 4th at Bellevue College.

Thirty-five Bethel students competed against those representing 59 state-qualifying schools at this national qualifying event. Bethel projects garnered four “Special Awards” sponsored by various historical foundations and state agencies. Students finishing first or second place in each National History Day category advance to represent Washington State at nationals.

The National History Day competition involves over 700,000 students during the course of a school year.  Regional and state competitions whittle this down to 2000 students representing fifty states and multiple Department of Defense overseas schools, each competing for the National Championship. 

Placing at State:

• Taylor Mamaril and Britt McCracken, whose Group Exhibit, The Boldt Decision: Turning Point for Native American Treaty Rights finished 2nd.  They also received the Washington State Archives Regional/Local Research Award.

• Tiffany McDaniel, Peyton Schwartz and Lisa Thompson whose Group Performance, Margaret Sanger: Turning Attitudes Regarding Reproduction finished 2nd.

• Leah Peterson, and Julie Martell whose Group Exhibit, The E.R.A.: Turning Point for Women’s Rights finished 3rd.  They also won the Washington State Archivist’s Award.

• Chloe McClellan for her Individual Exhibit, The Other Freud: Turning Points in Medicine finished 3rd.   She also won the National Archives Research Award.

• Stacey Baumes and Lyndee Faust whose Group Performance, Flappers: Turning Points in Gender Roles and Identity placed 3rd.

• Quentin Main, Kyle Leonard and Nicole Taylor whose Group Exhibit, Turning Points in Cloning: From Weismann to Dolly finished 4th.

• Ruth Smitherman whose Individual Performance, Martha Graham: Breaking Tradition One Dance at a Time finished 4th.

• Tayler Kindsfather and Deidra McKnight whose Group Exhibit, Modern Art: Turning Perspective on its Head placed 5th.

• Lucien Benvenutti whose Individual Documentary, Space: A Turning Point in Human Imagination placed 5th.

• Trevor Hiscox whose Individual Performance, Darrow and the Evolution of Truth: A Turning Point in Scientific Freedom placed 5th.  He also received the Washington State Supreme Court Award.