the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School freshman Kathryn Shin has earned first place at the New Jersey National History Day (NHD) competition, held on May 3rd at William Paterson University. Kathryn’s award-winning exhibit, The Capital Crawl: A Climb Towards Equality and Inclusion for Disabled, earned her a spot at the NHD competition in Washington D.C.
In addition to advancing to nationals, Kathryn has been nominated to represent New Jersey at the prestigious NHD Exhibit showcase, hosted by Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. There she will display her exhibit, engage with museum staff, historians, and fellow NHD participants from across the country.
“Studying the Capitol Crawl and getting to interview key figures from the protest has taught me that the present is shaped by a much more complex and personal history than what textbooks usually show,” said Kathryn. “One of the most impactful lessons I learned is that every disability rights activist involved in the protest had their own unique reasons and goals. People joined for different reasons, including the fight for accessibility, education rights, and desire to finally be heard.”
Kathryn’s project stood out not only for its historical insight and compelling design but also for its depth of research and personal engagement. She interviewed disability rights activist Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, one of the key figures involved in the 1990 Capitol Crawl protest, and even learned Braille to enhance the accessibility of her exhibit.
“Please join me in congratulating Kat on her incredible achievements,” said Corrina Keller, RHS National History Day Club advisor. “Her dedication to historical research, creative presentation, and inclusive storytelling is inspiring. We are so proud of the hard work she’s put into this project.”
About National History Day
National History Day (NHD) is a year-long academic program that encourages middle and high school students to conduct original research on historical topics of interest. Participants express their findings through exhibits, documentaries, papers, websites, and performances. The program culminates in local, state, and national competitions. This year’s theme is Rights & Responsibilities in History.
About the National History Day Exhibit Showcase
Held at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., the NHD Exhibit Showcase gives students the opportunity to present their work in a museum setting. Participants engage with curators and educators, explore rarely seen historical artifacts, and share their research with the public and peers from around the country.
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Very impressive! Students should learn that history is not just in the reading, but also in the writing. No historian’s perspective is protected from critical examination, and no historian, however young, should consider their voice insignificant.