Los Alamos Students Advance to State National History Day Competition

Twenty-two students from Piñon Elementary and Los Alamos Middle School punched their tickets to the New Mexico state National History Day competition after a strong showing Saturday at the Santa Fe regional contest held at the New Mexico History Museum. The state competition is scheduled for April 17, 2026.

The Los Alamos contingent was among 151 students from 13 schools who competed at the regional level. Piñon Elementary GATE teacher and NHD sponsor Courtney Smith credited the students' preparation for their success. "It was a great day and I am so proud of all of the work that the students put into their research and their projects," she said.

Smith also noted a cross-school pipeline between the two Los Alamos campuses: "Six former Piñon Panthers who are now representing the middle school also placed first or second in their categories and are going on to the state contest."

Among the standout performers, Piñon sixth grader Olivia Conner-Lee took first place in Individual Performance for her project "The 625 War: How People Reformed and Reacted to It." Fellow Piñon student Aditya Nag earned third place in Papers for "How Sir Isaac Newton's Role in the European Scientific Revolution Revolutionized Science and the Way People Thought," and Everett James placed third in Individual Website for "The Reintroduction of Wolves into Yellowstone."

Los Alamos Middle School produced several top finishers as well. LeAnn Harwell won first place in Individual Exhibit with "The Battle of Guagamela," while Sarah Sanders and Ruby Starrett captured first place in Group Exhibit for "The Troubles Blown Right Open." Evan Cunningham and Isaac Light took second place in Group Documentary with "Dive Bombers, Dictators, and Death." Seventh grader Camila Zapien received the Museum Staff Choice Award, a recognition given by the museum's own staff rather than the competition judges.

The New Mexico Humanities Council, which has organized and administered National History Day in New Mexico for more than 20 years, oversees the statewide competition. New Mexico has a strong track record at the national level: last year the state produced seven national finalists, including three from Moriarty High School, three from Silver High School, and one from Pecos Cyber Academy, with a Moriarty team earning third place in the senior group exhibit. One Silver High School student's documentary was even featured at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

The 22 Los Alamos students will have roughly a month to refine their projects before competing at the state level on April 17.