BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Encouraged to explore “Innovation in History,” approximately 140 students shared their research and findings at the 27th annual Kern County History Day competition held (today) (March 6) at University Square in Bakersfield. Winners in each category earned the right to compete at History Day in California — May 6-9 in Pasadena. State winners are eligible to compete at National History Day, June 13-17 at the University of Maryland.

Students in grades 4-12 from 21 Kern County schools competed. They had been involved in research since the beginning of the school year preparing historical papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, Web sites and posters designed around the National History Day theme of “Innovation in History: Impact and Change,”

As an example, “The Manhattan Project” was the topic Fruitvale Jr. High School’s Andrew Kerwin used to win in the Junior Individual Performance category. The judges watched with interest as Kerwin played the roles of key scientists who built the first atom bomb and President Truman, who ordered its use on Japan to end World War II. In doing the research, Kerwin told the judges he had a chance to personally speak with one of the scientists, Robert Christy.

“His wife told me I better talk to him now because he only had a couple of months to live,” Kerwin said. “Talking with him was like being a part of history. When he found out I would be playing him at History Day, he wished me luck.”

Other winning entries focused on such diverse subjects as: ballet, laser technology, irrigation, lithium batteries, Freedom Riders, heart transplants, light currents and endoscopies.

Kern County History Day was presented and sponsored by The Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

*(Students eligible to represent Kern County at History Day in California, May 6-9 in Pasadena)

SENIOR DIVISION (Grades 9-12)

Historical Paper

(Student-School-Entry Title)

* Carl Demler, Garces Memorial High – “The Innovation of Modern Beekeeping”

Group Documentary

* Bianca Hinojosa and Marissa Manos, Centennial High – “A Second Chance: The Innovation of the Heart Transplant”

* Kerry Burke and Laura Meert, Garces Memorial High – “The Camera Pill: An Innovation in Endoscopy”

* Grace and Sarah Moore, Centennial High – Patent No. 2981877: The Micro-Innovation That Transformed the Modern World

Individual Documentary

* Sara Melgar, Centennial High – “Changes in Laser Technology and Its Impact on People”

* Morgan Barnes, Bakersfield High – “Woodstock”

* Jasmine Rodriguez, Garces Memorial High – “Radio: An Innovative Way of Communicating”

Individual Performance

* Paige Smith, Garces Memorial High – “Women Actors? Changing the Face of Theatre”

Individual Exhibit

* Farah Hasta, Garces Memorial High – “Ballet: A Leap Forward in the Arts”

* Seth Champness, Garces Memorial High – “The Geo Cooler: A Revolution in Well Temperature Control”

* Demetria Hayman – “Tanks”

Group Web Site

* Bobby Hill and Alex Giumarra, Garces Memorial High – “The Tank and Its Impact on Warfare”

JUNIOR DIVISION (Grades 4-8)

Group Performance

* Sameen Bramer, Calvin Laverty, Brittany Louey, Ramie Sahota and Amy Williams, Fruitvale Jr. High – “Disturbing the Peace: The Freedom Rides, an Innovation that Changed Civil Rights into a National Movement”

Individual Performance

* Andrew Kerwin, Fruitvale Jr. High – “The Manhattan Project: An Innovation that Would Change the World”

* Julia Gonzales, Columbia Elementary – “Social Innovator: Ella Baker, SNCC, and the Student Movement”

Group Documentary

* Estrella Lobos and Isabella Ozuna, Alicante School – “Hoover Dam: The Impact and Change from Taming the Red Bull”

* Noah Kroeker, Michelle Laurendine and Meredith Neilson, Fruitvale Jr. High – “The Marshall Plan: An Innovation that Changed Nations”

Individual Documentary

* Christopher Trickey, Endeavour Elementary – “Food Grows Where Water Flows: The Impact of the State Water Project”

* Alap Sahoo, Warren Jr. High – “Petroleum: The Power House of Our Lives”

Group Exhibit

* Julia Castro, Gabriela Hinojosa, Mikayla Regier and Dylan Tucker, Discovery Elementary – “The Impact and Change of Blood Transfusions”

* Olivia Belda and Makay Moss, Fruitvale Jr. High – “Innovators of Light: War of the Currents”

ALTERNATE: Harjot Dosanjh and Arnie Ozuna, Mountain View Middle – “The Hoover Dam: Taming the Red Bull”

Individual Exhibit

* Bianca Salazar, Mountain View Middle – “The Seneca Falls Convention: Launching Women Towards Their Rightful Place in the U.S.”

* Dylan Logan, Valley Oaks Charter School – “Irrigation Then and Now”

ALTERNATE: Laura Cruz, Alicante School – “Polio Vaccine: Everlasting Hope”

Individual Web Site

* Grace Park, Fruitvale Jr. High – “The Advancement and History of the Lithium Batery”

* Alexandria Crandall, Warren Jr. High – “Personal Computers: Impact on the World”

Group Web Site

* Frederika Ruedo, Almond Tree Middle – “How Music Moves the World”

Historical Paper

* Brooke Richter, Fruitvale Jr. High – “Tuvia Bielski: Innovation in Survival”

Group Poster (Grades 4-5 only)

* Emily Holland, Emily Gusman and Paige Reed, Highland Elementary – “Insulin Pumps: Pumping Up Life!”

* Dylan Clayton, Lucas Dow, Chandler Maurer and Luke Sullivan, Highland Elementary – “Global Hawk: Innovative Flyer”

ALTERNATE: Jayla Gutierrez, Lizbeth Rodriguez and Diocelene Valderrama, Myrtle Ave. School – “Jazz”

Individual Poster (Grades 4-5 only)

* Elsie Mares, Alicante School – “The Telephone: Reaching Out and Impacting the World”

* Elisa Rowatt, Endeavour Elementary – “Failure is Impossible”

ALTERNATE: Ageda Arvizu, Myrtle Ave. School – “Plastic”