Irvine students head to National finals

Orange County students sent 21 qualifiers to the National History Day finals after winning a state-leading 36 awards at the 2026 National History Day-California contest, according to the Orange County Department of Education. The statewide competition drew more than 1,600 participants from 276 schools in 27 counties earlier this month. (newsroom.ocde.us) Irvine Unified students were a large part of that result, with district projects winning 11 champion titles at the state level. The national contest is scheduled for June 14-18 at the University of Maryland, College Park. (iusd.org) ### How big was Orange County’s showing at the state contest? Orange County won 36 awards, more than any other county in California, the county education department said in a May 22 report. (iusd.org) That total included 15 championship titles, seven runner-up finishes, five honorable mentions and nine special awards. Riverside County followed with 24 awards and San Diego County with 22, according to OCDE. The state contest was held at Sacramento State from May 1 through May 3, Irvine Unified said. More than 230 historians, educators and other professionals interviewed students and judged projects there, the district said. (newsroom.ocde.us) ### Which Irvine schools were part of the group heading to nationals? Irvine Unified said its students produced 11 champion projects at National History Day-California, with winners from Venado Middle School, Irvine High School and Sierra Vista Middle School. OCDE’s May 22 report also highlighted Portola High School and Northwood High School students among Orange County participants recognized at the state finals. (newsroom.ocde.us) Sierra Vista Middle School appeared repeatedly in the state results highlighted by both OCDE and Irvine Unified. OCDE’s report named Mia Berryman and Masia Creamer for a category-winning performance project and also cited Aaryan Shah, Krish Marfatia, Kaito Yamashita and Davis Barbee for winning the Stephenson Family Award for Sports History. (iusd.org) ### What kinds of projects advanced? National History Day projects covered documentaries, exhibits, websites, podcasts, posters, performances and papers, according to Irvine Unified and National History Day. This year’s theme was “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History,” which students used to frame topics ranging from labor movements and education reform to journalism and public health. (iusd.org) Irvine Unified’s published list of champions included Joy Yan of Venado Middle School for a junior individual documentary, Nicholas Soo of Irvine High School for a senior individual documentary, and Sierra Vista Middle School students Hannah Hsiao and Oliver Wiechmann for junior individual exhibits. The district also listed a junior group exhibit winner from Sierra Vista: Sophie Bi, Sharon Yitong Qian and Kylee Xiong. (newsroom.ocde.us) ### What did school officials say about the results? Julie Hull, an OCDE coordinator for National History Day-Orange County, said in the county report that “the talent and passion displayed by Orange County students at the state competition was extraordinary.” She said the county was congratulating all participants, “especially the many champions who will continue their journey at nationals this June in Maryland.” (iusd.org) Blair Pador, Irvine Unified’s coordinator of history-social science, content literacy and world languages, said district students had “done more than study history” and had engaged with it “in meaningful ways.” Pador said their presentations showed “a deep and thoughtful understanding of complex historical issues.” (iusd.org) ### What happens when the students get to Maryland? National History Day says the national contest brings together nearly 3,000 students at the University of Maryland, College Park, for a week of competition and events. Students compete in preliminary and final rounds, and the program ends with an awards ceremony on the final day. Teacher and student registration for the 2026 national contest opened April 15 and closed May 19, according to National History Day. (newsroom.ocde.us) Orange County’s qualifiers are set to compete June 14-18, with winners to be announced at the closing ceremony, Irvine Unified said. (nhd.org) (iusd.org)