DES MOINES, IOWA (June 24, 2025) — Seventy-three Iowa students participated in the National Contest of National History Day, hosted at the University of Maryland, College Park from June 8 to June 12.
After advancing from the Iowa state-level competition, students showcased documentary, exhibit, paper, performance and website projects exploring topics related to the annual theme, “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” Iowa boasts five medalists, one additional top-ten finalist, seven honorable mentions, and one special award.
The 73 students advanced from a total of 542 competitors at the state level competition, held on April 28 at Iowa State University.
This year’s awardees from the national competition include:
2025 MEDALISTS
1st Place in Junior Group Performance
Students: Cass Moffatt, Gianna Greenleaf, Lux Larson, and Saelah Boie
Teacher and School: Val Philips, Akron Westfield Middle School
Title: Old Enough to Vote: Rights and Responsibilities of the 26th Amendment
1st Place in Senior Group Performance
Students: Isaac Benscoter and Isaac Seberger
Teacher and School: Susan Fritzell, Marshalltown High School
Title: Tinker v. Des Moines: Taking Responsibility to Ensure Students’ Rights
2nd Place in Junior Group Website
Students: Braylynn Brase, Elizabeth Kalvig, Ellie Sudol, Emilie O’Neill, and Mykah Hall
Teacher and School: Suzan Turner, Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
Title: Don't Tinker With My Rights: The Case for School Responsibility and Student First Amendment Rights
3rd Place in Junior Group Documentary
Students: Paige Nicholson, Sydney Edwards, and Tynnlie Schram
Teacher and School: Val Philips, Akron Westfield Middle School
Title: Sisters in the Sky: Reaching New Heights Claiming Military Rights
3rd Place in Junior Individual Documentary
Student: Adrian Gillette
Teacher and School: Deb Temperly, Bettendorf Middle School
Title: FREADom on Trial: Rights and Responsibilities in Island Trees Board of Education v Pico
2025 FINALISTS
Senior Individual Website (8th Place)
Student: Jackson Mehmen
Teacher and School: Suzan Turner, Nashua-Plainfield High School
Title: The Iowa Cow War: “Moo”ving the Needle of Justice to Balance Farmers’ Rights and Public Health Responsibilities
2025 SPECIAL AWARD-WINNERS
History of Agriculture and Rural Life Award
Senior Individual Website
Student: Jackson Mehmen
Teacher and School: Suzan Turner, Nashua-Plainfield Junior/Senior High School
Title: The Iowa Cow War: “Moo”ving the Needle of Justice to Balance Farmers’ Rights and Public Health Responsibilities
2025 OUTSTANDING ENTRIES
Junior Group Documentary
Students: Guston Pole and Rex LaFrentz
Teacher and School: Patty Lien, St. Benedict Catholic School (Decorah)
Title: Harvests of Change: The 1980s Farm Crisis and the Struggle Across America
Senior Paper
Student: Dutch Smith
Teacher and School: Shauna Cihacek, Abraham Lincoln High School (Council Bluffs)
Title: Spain's Anti-Fascist "Social Revolution:" Minority Rights, Capital Punishment, and Public Responsibilities in the Burgos Trials
2025 PROJECT SHOWCASE SELECTIONS
Smithsonian National Museum of American History Exhibit Showcase
Senior Individual Exhibit
Student: Abigail Nelson
Teacher and School: Shauna Cihacek, Abraham Lincoln High School (Council Bluffs)
Title: Sacred Land, Sacred Rights: From Treaty to Settlement for the Meskwaki Nation
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Documentary Showcase
Junior Individual Documentary
Student: Adrian Gillette
Teacher and School: Deb Temperly, Bettendorf Middle School
Title: FREADom on Trial: Rights and Responsibilities in Island Trees Board of Education v Pico
Senior Individual Documentary
Student: Kaia Schleifman
Teacher and School: Shauna Cihacek, Abraham Lincoln High School (Council Bluffs)
Title: Victory Delivered: The 6888th Postal Directory Battalion’s Mission in Mail and Morale
2025 HONORABLE MENTIONS
Honorable mentions are awarded to entries that ranked in the second place in the first round of judging.
Junior Paper
Student: Blake Dreckman
Teacher and School: Brittan Schofield, Timberline School (Waukee)
Title: Forgotten Children: The Creation of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School
Junior Individual Documentary
Student: Londyn Senethavysouk
Teacher and School: Ann Jackson, B R Miller Middle School (Marshalltown)
Title: Extermination or Civilization: The Cultural Genocide of Native Americans
Junior Individual Exhibit
Student: Kylee Cavanagh
Teacher and School: Deb Temperly, Bettendorf Middle School
Title: The 1968 Fair Housing Act: A Blueprint for Equality or a House of Cards?
Junior Individual Performance
Student: Nina Coppola
Teacher and School: Patty Lien, St Benedict Catholic School (Decorah)
Title: Elizabeth Blackwell and Female Education in Medicine
Junior Group Documentary
Students: Guston Pole and Rex LaFrentz
Teacher and School: Patty Lien, St Benedict Catholic School (Decorah)
Title: Harvests of Change: The 1980s Farm Crisis and the Struggle Across America
Senior Paper
Student: Dutch Smith
Teacher and School: Shauna Cihacek, Abraham Lincoln High School (Council Bluffs)
Title: Spain's Anti-Fascist "Social Revolution:" Minority Rights, Capital Punishment, and Public Responsibilities in the Burgos Trials
Senior Individual Documentary
Student: Ahana Devadas
Teacher and School: Cheryl Smith, Johnston Senior High School
Title: Echoes of Incarceration: The Power of the Written Word and Society’s Duty to Listen
Annually, more than a half million middle and high school students around the world research, develop and present papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites and performance about historical topics.
The National History Day in Iowa program has been coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa since 1994.
Note: The lists of the state winners and special award recipients is available online.
The State Historical Society of Iowa has been a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy since 1857. With a dual mission of preservation and education, it maintains a museum, two research centers, and seven historic sites. The society preserves and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources through a variety of statewide programs, exhibitions, and projects while serving as an advocate for Iowa’s past and connector to the future. The society is part of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Follow the State Historical Society of Iowa on Facebook and Instagram.
