Top Prize to School 32 in Regional History Day Competition
District Earns Two Berths in State Competition

Going head-to-head with more experienced competitors from school districts in the Lower Hudson Valley, Family School 32 won first place for its Group Exhibit and PEARLS Hawthorne School won second place for an individual exhibit in the regional National History Day Competition held March 9th at St. Thomas Aquinas College. These students now advance to the statewide competition at the New York Historical Society in Cooperstown May 2.

Middle and High School students initially entered their scholarship in Yonkers History Day, the first tier of the National History Day competition. The theme, "Conflict and Compromise in History", asked students to investigate, analyze and present events of historical significance, even if they have never been resolved.

The Family School 32 team, which entered the Group Exhibit competition in the Junior Division at the Regional Competition, presented an intriguing analysis, "Success vs. Slavery - A Study in Colonial Slaveholding - The Philipse Family." Their impressive effort won first place among all the entries, and a trip to the statewide competition in May.

The team members are:

• Christopher Bearisto
• David Hall
• Alina Torres
• Briana Vasquez
• Arthur Wernham
• Samanda Willis

Ms. Denise McCaffrey is the coach of the team.

An interesting Individual Exhibit developed by PEARLS student Jasmine Chacko, "African Americans' Contributions to the Civil War" won a second place award, and a trip to the statewide competition. Ms. Robin Jannell is the coach.

Third place History Day winners serve as alternates in the state competition. Angela Pastorelli-Sosa, a student at Pearls won a prize in this category for her paper, "Medger Evers: A Martyr of the Civil Rights Movement." And, a team from Riverside High School also won a third place prize for a Group Documentary, "911". Team members are Jason Cheru, Alexis Acuna, Brian Ponte and Kasandra Trevino.