We have been deeply involved in historical research and work has been placed at various competitions including National History Day, the Lowell Milken Competition, and the NYS Archives Competition. Our focus of study has been figures who have been underrepresented in history such as Virginia Hall and James Reese Europe, musician and Harlem Hellfighter. Through our research, we found that creating a big change always starts with a little action. Please click on image to visit the research website.
Judy Heumann in a scene from “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.”, 1977, New York Times
Being Judy Heumann: Champion for the Rights of the Disabled
https://judyheumann.weebly.com/
Throughout American history, people with disabilities faced isolation, stereotypes, and segregation. The work of Judith Heumann, a lifelong wheelchair user, was transformative in the acknowledgment of people with disabilities in society and in pushing past years of legislative stagnation. She initiated the 504 sit-ins, which successfully pressured enforcement of Section 504, a key piece of legislation that bars discrimination based on disability in all organizations receiving federal funding. Despite being a champion for her community and paving the way for decades of groundbreaking legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Heumann is often overlooked in narratives of the disability rights and larger civil rights movements.
$2,500 Outstanding High School Project, 2024 Discovery Award Competition Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
Dizzy Gillespie, 1956. PBS Learning Media
https://23-67905918.nhdwebcentral.org/home
Beginning in the 1950s, from the advent of the Cold War, the Jazz Ambassadors – America’s premier musicians – toured the globe crossing ideological, cultural, and geographical frontiers. As integrated bands traveled, their lively performances countered Soviet portrayals of U.S. racism while showcasing American freedom and an image of racial tolerance. Concurrently, racial tension and violence in America intensified, making the tours a unique platform where African-American musicians could cross racial frontiers. Ultimately, the tours succeeded in legitimizing jazz as an artform and creating a global love for the genre. Their legacy can also be seen in the continued use of culture as an American tool for diplomacy.
- 1st Place, National History Day, National Endowment for the Humanities Scholar, Senior Group Website
- 2nd Place, New York State Archives, Excellence in Student Research, High School Division
- 1st Place, NY State History Day
- 1st Place, Long Island History Day
Virginia Hall’s driver license, 1930s. Lorna Catling Collection
https://21-52128301.nhdwebcentral.org/
American spy and saboteur, Virginia Hall successfully communicated intelligence from behind enemy lines in France to help defeat the Nazis during WWII. Her transmissions were key to a successful invasion of France by the Allied Forces in 1944. Despite facing gender discrimination and skeptism of her abilities due to her amputee status, as one of the first agents in France, Hall quickly established networks of informants and acted as a liaison, often hiding intelligence in her wooden leg. For her work, she received numerous awards to commemorate her service and is remembered worldwide for her legendary clandestine communication.
- 7th Place, National History Day, Senior Individual Website
- 3rd Place, New York State Archives, Excellence in Student Research, High School Division
- 1st Place, NY State History Day
- 1st Place, Long Island History Day
Lieutenant James [Reese] Europe and his famous band of the 369th Infantry, February 17, 1919. National Archives
https://20-49140406.nhdwebcentral.org/
In the early 1900s, discrimination against African-Americans was ubiquitous. African-American composer, conductor, and organizer, Lieutenant James “Jim” Reese Europe acted as a champion for black musicians through a series of vital contributions. As founder of the Clef Club, Europe formed one of the first labor unions and contracting agencies for black entertainers. During WWI, he introduced jazz to the European continent. Lieutenant Europe opened countless doors for African-American musicians, paving the way for a period of black excellence during the Jazz Age.
- 2nd Place, National History Day, Junior Individual Website
- 2nd place, New York State Archives, Excellence in Student Research (Grades 6-8)
- Awarded $2,000 for Outstanding Middle School Project, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Discovery Award Competition
- 1st Place, NY State History Day
- 1st Place, Long Island History Day
The Lindberghs and the press in Nanking, 1931. Manuscripts & Archives, Yale University
Renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh was catapulted into global stardom after triumphantly completing the first solo nonstop Transatlantic flight in 1927. Just five years later, in 1932, this fame would lead to the kidnapping and murder of his toddler son. The high profile tragedy captivated the nation and resulted in the passage of the Federal Kidnapping Act or “Lindbergh Law.” This legislation gave the F.B.I. jurisdiction over kidnapping investigations, a triumph which continues to save thousands of lives each year.
- 2nd Place, National History Day, Junior Individual Website
- 2nd Place, NY State History Day
- 3rd Place, Long Island History Day
History In Action 