The Rhode Island History Day competition was held at CCRI Knight Campus on Saturday, April 23, 2026. We are thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of the following students.
INDIVIDUAL EXHIBIT:
First Place & National Qualifier
Smallpox Vaccine - A revolutionary discovery that reformed medical history by Owen Mahon from Toll Gate High School
GROUP EXHIBIT:
First Place & National Qualifier
On The Record Dorothy Thompson's Fight for Reform by Alice DeGaetano & Reilly White from Toll Gate High School
Third Place & Alternate
A Fight For Women's Suffrage in Rhode Island by Giulianna Simas & Raquel Umoh from Toll Gate High School
AWARDS:
Amica Companies Foundation Community Impact Award
Senior Division Awardee ($150 award)
A Fight For Women's Suffrage in Rhode Island, an Exhibit by Giulianna Simas & Raquel Umoh, from Toll Gate High School
Sponsored by the Amica Companies Foundation, this prize is awarded to one outstanding entry in any category in both the Junior and Senior divisions that explores the role of philanthropy, volunteerism, and community engagement in shaping Rhode Island’s history and cultural heritage. Projects may highlight individuals, organizations, or movements that have made a lasting impact on the well-being of Rhode Island communities through acts of service, charitable giving, or civic initiatives. Special consideration will be given to projects that examine how historical efforts in philanthropy have influenced present-day community support systems.
The Fort Adams Trust Award
Senior Division Awardee ($100 award)
Swapping Dresses for Overalls, The Impact of Rosie the Riveter, a paper by Cassidy Szymkowicz from Toll Gate High School
Since 1994, the Fort Adams Trust's mission has been to preserve and revitalize historic Fort Adams for the public’s benefit. Sitting in a Rhode Island State Park this National Historic Landmark from its pre-Revolutionary earthen cannon emplacements to its World War II command center, has stood as a cornerstone of America’s coastal defense and a symbol of our nation’s military resilience.
This $100 cash prize is awarded to one outstanding project in the Junior and one in the Senior Division that demonstrates exceptional engagement with our nation’s military history from the American Revolution through World War II. Projects should make effective use of both primary and secondary sources, with preference given to topics connected to Rhode Island history or strategic defense.
Junior League of Rhode Island Award
Senior Division Awardee ($150 award)
A Fight For Women's Suffrage in Rhode Island, an Exhibit by Giulianna Simas & Raquel Umoh, from Toll Gate High School
Junior League of Rhode Island is a nonprofit organization of women that has been working for over 100 years to advance meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. This $150 cash prize is awarded to one outstanding entry in both the Junior and Senior divisions that use primary and secondary sources to develop a project exploring topics related to women's history and its legacies, especially Rhode Island women or examples of how women have positively impacted their communities.
Rhode Island Secretary of State Award
Senior Division Awardee ($150 award)
A Fight For Women's Suffrage in Rhode Island, an Exhibit by Giulianna Simas & Raquel Umoh, from Toll Gate High School
Sponsored by the Rhode Island Foundation, this prize is awarded to one outstanding entry in any category in both the Junior and Senior divisions that relies on primary sources from the Rhode Island State Archives to develop a project tied to Rhode Island history. Special consideration will be given to projects that explore how communication between individuals and their government has changed over time in Rhode Island, and how these changes in communication have led to social change. Selected student(s) will receive a cash prize for their work.
Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Award
Senior Division Awardee ($125 award)
Maritcha Remond Lyons: Opening the Door of Opportunity, a documentary by Hongsovannara Yin from Toll Gate High School
This award is sponsored by the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission, which was established by a joint resolution from the General Assembly to commemorate Rhode Island's role in the founding of the nation in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This $125 prize is awarded to an outstanding entry in both the Junior (6-8 grade) and Senior (9-12 grade) divisions that explores Rhode Island's role in the American Revolution, founding of the nation, or that explores the ideals of freedom, equality, and independence in Rhode Island. The project should explain why the subject(s)/event(s)/individual(s) is/are important and place it/them in historical context, and if possible, discuss the topic's relevance for today. Successful projects may use a variety of primary and secondary sources including those available from Rhode Island 250th Partners (available at rhodeisland250.org/our-partners).