Five Storm Lake High School students were among those recognized at the 2026 National History Day National Contest in College Park, Md.
The competition was held June 14–18 at the University of Maryland, bringing together roughly 3,000 students from across the country who advanced through local, regional and state contests. This year’s theme, “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History,” guided projects across five categories, including documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances and websites.
The Storm Lake team earned an honorable mention in the Senior Group Website category. The project, “Say Cheese!: How the Introduction of Community Water Fluoridation in Grand Rapids Revolutionized Dental Health,” was created by Eden Laguna Zavala, Fernando Ramirez, Frank Arbizu‑Guerra, John Schwint and Riak Tut, students of Storm Lake High School teacher Christina Rice. Their work placed second in the first round of national judging, earning recognition among the top entries in their category.
National History Day engages more than half a million students annually in long‑term historical research, with only about 1 percent advancing to the national level. Judges include historians and educators from across the country, and many students receive special awards or scholarships for outstanding work.
