From June 8 to June 12 (Sunday to Thursday), ten students from the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) proudly represented their school at the prestigious National History Day (NHD) competition held in College Park, Maryland. Competing against thousands of students from across the country, HALB students earned national recognition in two major categories: Junior Group Website and Junior Group Documentary.
The Junior Group Website, titled “Voices of Conscience: The Vrba-Wetzler Report and the Responsibility to Act,” created by Alex Bornstein, Eli Berman, Bram Feldman, Siggy Simon, and Azi Verschieller, placed fourth in the nation. In addition to this remarkable achievement, the project was honored as the Best Overall Junior Project from New York State.
HALB also received national acclaim in the Junior Group Documentary category. The film “Freedom Summer: Fighting for Rights and Shouldering the Responsibility for Change” was selected for a prestigious showcase at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The documentary was screened at the Oprah Winfrey Theater, where museum visitors were given the opportunity to view the students’ powerful work.
These outstanding accomplishments were achieved under the guidance of their social studies teacher, Ms. Kristen Waterman, whose dedication and leadership helped inspire students to reach new academic heights. HALB congratulates all the participants for their hard work, creativity, and success on the national stage.
