Dorothy Zhou and Thanvi Voruganti are interviewed for Smithsonian Showcases.

Dorothy Zhou and Thanvi Voruganti are interviewed at the Smithsonian Showcase for their Senior Website Documentary, "Judith Heumann: Trailblazer of the Disability Rights Revolution."  Dorothy and Thanvi did a great job with the interview and their documentary. They are passionate about the subject and it shows!

The Historical League is proud to support the NHDAZ!!

National History Day

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National History Day · Original audio

We had the chance to talk with Thanvi and Dorothy from Arizona, whose documentary about Judith Heumann was featured at the NHD Documentary Showcase at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Learn more about Thanvi and Dorothy’s documentary, and what it’s like participating in an NHD student showcase!

Each week we’ll showcase student interviews from the 2026 NHD National Contest, highlighting student projects and opportunities- so stay tuned!

NHDAZ student Thanvi Voruganti continues to impress

We are so proud of Thanvi and also her teacher Stacey who has worked with National History Day in Arizona students for many years. They have blossomed under her guidance.

NHD teacher Stacey Trepanier commented, "Super proud teacher/ mentor moment. After winning the VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay contest at district levels this amazing young lady won first in State. Along with a $2,000 scholarship award she is off to DC to compete at the National level. Incredibly proud of you Thanvi."

NHDAZ writes, "We’re thrilled to celebrate Thanvi Voruganti, who took home top honors in the VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest! Open to students in grades 9-12, the contest challenged participants to answer the big question, “How do you show your patriotism?” — and Thanvi delivered a powerful 3-5 minute audio essay.

Her essay, Beyond the Fireworks, won at the VFW John McCain Post, then placed 1st out of 10 at the district level, earning her a $2,000 scholarship and a spot at the national competition in Washington, DC

A huge shoutout to her teacher, Stacy Trepanier, for the support along the way!

Thanvi is a proud National History Day participant for over six years, bringing history to life by uncovering untold stories, interviewing veterans, and turning research into real-world civic action. With this project, she has applied her NHD learning to real-world impact through youth civic engagement and nonpartisan voter registration efforts.

Thanvi reminds us that patriotism isn’t just flags and fireworks — it’s curiosity, courage, and showing up every day."

Historymaker Documentary for 2025 Turquoise & Treasures

Creating a documentary: Thanks to the knowledge of high  school junior, Thanvi Voruganti, 1992-2023 Arizona Historymakers have been recorded in a 20-minute documentary. Thanvi was the Curator. 

The documentary committee: Creative Director Ruth McLeod, Editors Cathy Shumard and Zona Lorig, AHS National History Day Coordinator Leonard Moody, AHS V.P. Education Dr. Kristen Rex, and NHD Advisor/Teacher Stacey Trepanier are grateful for her expertise. Ruth commented, “Thanvi was delightful to work with, clear grasp of the goals, creative and prompt in  her response to the project.

The documentary featured all Historymakers from 1992-2023. It was emailed to all 2025 Historymakers, Historymakers who came to the event and all attendees. 

https://www.youtube.com/@arizonahistoricalleague 

Thanvi posed with Eleanor Roosevelt while in Washington D.C. for National History Day competition

National History Day winners 2025

Congratulations to all the winners and all the Arizona participants in National History Day this season! Everyone did a phenomenal job and we can’t wait to see you all next year!

 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DK0HBivJawj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Ira Parsens, Jessica Finnie, Thanvi Voruganti, Manavy Gleb, Brad Wu

Brad Wu – Senior Individual Documentary

1st Place

National History Academy Scholarship Winner

Jessica Finnie – Senior Paper

Special Award: Untold Stories in U.S. History

W. Ira Parsons – Senior Paper

Special Award: Discovery or Exploration in History

Thanvi Voruganti – Senior Individual Documentary

Outstanding State Entry

Manavy Gleb – Junior Individual Exhibit

Outstanding State Entry

NHD also picks an outstanding entry award. The National contest honors two student entries from each affiliate - one in Junior Division and one in Senior division for exceptional work that stands out, even if they don't place in the top three overall or win a special award.

 

Our two Outstanding Affiliates were: 

 

Manavy Gleb - Junior Individual Exhibit

Outstanding Affiliate Award 

 

Thanvi Voruganti - Senior Individual Documentary 

Outstanding Affiliate Award 

NHDAZ Second Place Winners at Nationals

 Honorable Mention (Second Place Winners) at Nationals NHD. So very proud of these students!

NHDAZ student Thanvi Vorganti sends Thank You note

 "Hope to do NHD again." Love to hear this from NHDAZ student Thanvi Vorganti.

Dear Mrs. Shumard and Historical League,

I sincerely thank you and the Historical League for your kind contributions regarding our trip to DC. NHD is genuinely a rewarding experience, and I am so glad to have met a diverse group of people at the competition. I truly learned a lot from building the project and working with my partner. Again, I am extremely grateful for all your help this year and hope to do NHD again.

Kind regards,

Thanvi Vorganti

Junior Group Website: The Unconventional Hostess: Eleanor Roosevelt Transforming the Role of First Lady

Day at the Museum for NHDAZ organizers

 Saturday, May 4 at Western Spirit Scottsdale's Museum of the West.

Praise from League volunteers for AHS Dr. Kristen Rex, Leonard Moody and Stacey Trepanier, "All did a great job organizing A Day at the Museum. It was both fun and helpful to the National History Day Arizona (NHDAZ) students in making their projects even better in preparation for going to Maryland for the national competition! The Historical League is proud of our participation today and our support of NHDAZ."

Stacey Trepanier

student Thanvi Voruganti and Leonard Moody

Dr. Kristen Rex

Future Historymakers?

 Future Historymakers? Who knows where the talent, determination and enthusiasm will take these National History Day students. As special guests of the 2023 Arizona Historymakers Celebration, they rubbed elbows with some inspirational honorees.

National History Day Students participate in 2023 Arizona Historymakers Celebration

 "We didn't realize it was such a big event," was one comment from National History Day Students. They were involved in 2023 Arizona Historymakers™ Celebration, coming early to set up their National competition display to share with guests.

1992-2019 Historymakers Documentary entertains guests

Guests enjoyed a history of 1992-2019 Historymakers™ in video and photos created by NHD student Thanvi Voruganti and League members Ruth McLeod, Zona Lorig, Cathy Shumard. This documentary was presented as the crowd entered the Steele Auditorium for the 2023 AZ Historymakers Celebration Oct 14..

Arizona Historymakers 1992-2019 Documentary premieres at Oct 14 Celebration

 The premiere of a new documentary "Arizona Historymakers™ from 1992-2019" was featured at 2023 Arizona Historymakers Celebration. It took months of work but worth it to share the story of our Historymakers. https://youtu.be/A7QzLOmEBlw

Special thanks to National History Day student Thanvi Voruganti for all her creative talents.

• Curated by: Thanvi Voruganti, National History Day Winner 2023

”Best in State" for Junior Individual Documentary

Historical League members:• Creative Director: Ruth McLeod

• Editors: Cathy Shumard, Zona Lorig�

• National History Day Arizona Advisors: Dr. Kristen Rex, Stacey Trepanier

Historical League provides funding for NHDAZ students

 Many NHDAZ students cannot afford the money to ship their elaborate exhibits to Wash. D.C. The Historical League provided specific funding for transportation this year. (For Ex. A NHD teacher in Nebraska rented a U-Haul trailer and drove her students exhibits). The AZ students were most appreciative for the funding.

Dear Mrs. Shumard and Historical League,

I hope you are doing well. I sincerely thank you and the historical league for your $400 donation to me and the rest of the students in the National History Day program. NHD, especially competing in nationals has truly impacted my technological as well as creative skills. By continuing to pursue participating in programs such as this one, I can continue to positively impact my career and prepare for the trials of future endeavors. Your support means a great deal to me and I hope the historical league will continue to work with NHDAZ to further the program in Arizona.

Thank you again,

Thanvi

Thanvi Voruganti

Another Thank You letter from Flagstaff NHDAZ student:

My name is Grace Kim. Thank you so much to the Historical League for helping me with the costs of traveling to Maryland. I participated in the Junior Group Documentary category, and my project name was The Rush for Riches. The most rewarding part of competing in NHD was getting to travel to Maryland, and I learned how to improve my public speaking skills. Thank you!

Sincerely, Grace Kim.

Kaelyn Ward and Grace Kim

Letter from NHDAZ student Meredith Williams thanking the Historical League: Our group had a great time at NHD! We got to see multiple historical places and monuments and learned a lot about history, especially about space. Our group’s category was a junior group performance called The Salem Witch Trials: A Time of Lies and Hysteria. Even if competing was a little stressful and we didn’t win, all of us had a great time! This is a photo of us in costume for our play. Thank you so much for everything!

From, Meredith Williams

Meredith Williams gave a Jr. Group Performance w Rylie Yanko, Sutton Nickerson, Roman Chapman, and Eleanor Johnson. They took 1st place in our Arizona competition.

Letter from Ethan Tsay

“Hi, this is Ethan Tsay, a student that participated in the NHD National Contest this year. Thank you for providing the $400 stipend for the trip to DC, as it was a very rewarding experience. I enjoyed the entire process of NHD this year, from the construction of my website, to taking part in the exciting atmosphere during the national competition. I look forward to participating in more NHD contests in the future! Thank you, Ethan.”

National History Day AZ student Ethan Tsay placed first in Arizona competition for a senior individual website named Black Barbershops: Cutting to New Frontiers. His website also won an Equality in History award.