National History Day winners Michelle Carpinteyro and Melissa Reyes. (Photo by Ms. Sciametta)

By Hilltop Star Staff

Students Michelle Carpinteyro and Melissa Reyes, both freshmen, won the National History Day competition held at William Paterson University on May 5. They won first place qualifier for the Senior Group Exhibit.

The group’s exhibit was a presentation about Japanese internment camps during World War II. The students interviewed Japanese-Americans that either lived through the camps or had family members that did. One of these individuals was a member of Congress, Norman Meneta, who was the Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush.

The group competed against 21 other exhibits from schools in the state. They previously won a regional competition to qualify for the event at William Paterson.

The students will now move on to the national competition at the University of Maryland. Carpinteyro and Reyes have been advised throughout this process by Mr. Velez and Ms. Huze.