(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — June 30, 2025) — El Paso ISD is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of students who competed in the 2025 Texas History Day competition, a prestigious academic event held earlier this spring at the University of Texas at Austin. Though some time has passed since the event in April, the accomplishments of these students are timeless and well worth recognizing.
MORE PHOTOS: El Paso ISD Students at UT Austin for Texas History Day
This year, 52 talented El Paso ISD students participated in Texas History Day, showcasing their research, creativity, and academic excellence in a variety of categories. The event is the state-level affiliate of National History Day (NHD), one of the nation’s most respected academic competitions for students in grades 6–12. More than 65,000 students across Texas join over half a million nationwide each year to present original projects that bring history to life.
El Paso ISD Students Who Earned Statewide Recognition:
• Fourth Place – Junior Division Group Performance
“The Story of Manzanar, Bounded by Barbed Wire, Drowned in Injustice”
Students: Ifeomachi Ezewuiro, Luciana Rosales, Abigail DeVora, Paulina Torres, & Yuli Tomita
School: Hornedo Middle School
Teacher: Kristen Shaver
• Fourth Place – Junior Division Individual Exhibit
“Downwinders”
Student: Ellie Smith
School: Hornedo Middle School
Teacher: Austin Menchaca
• Best in Region Award – Paper Entry
Student: Temi Aduroja
School: Hornedo Middle School
Teacher: Kristen Shaver
• Outstanding Regional Entry Award for West Texas – Documentaries
Students: Lynda Lou Valerio, Penelope Feldman, and Natalie Clancy
School: Burges High School
Teacher: Adalberto Guerrero
• Special Prize for Maritime Projects – Junior Division Paper
“Sunk: The Hidden History of the RMS Titanic”
Student: Zenia Martinez
School: Wiggs Middle School
Teacher: Jeanaline Celis
• Mary Austin Holley Women’s History Award – Senior Division (Websites and Performances)
“Road to Reproductive Rights: How Roe v. Wade Shaped the Rights of Women and Challenged National Responsibility”
Students: Gonzague Saldana-Ceberio, Indira Johnson, Jack Nance, and Zuzeth Gonzalez
School: El Paso High School
Teacher: Greg Cannon
Congratulations to all the participants, teachers, and families who made this journey possible. Your work honors the power of history and the bright future ahead.