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Junior Individual Documentaries
Kathryn Holland
Brighton School, Mountlake Terrace
Bibliography & Process Paper
Anesthesia broke the pain barrier to surgery, both physically and mentally, such that we are now able to undergo operations which would have been possible before.
Vibhaakshayaa Sathish Kumar
Skyview Middle School, Bothell
Bibliography & Process Paper
Barbara McClintock, an early pioneer in the study of maize genetics, discovered the revolutionizing concept of jumping genes. Known as transposons, these sequences of DNA can relocate within a genome. Her findings and way of thinking were radically different than what was perceived to be the norm, developing a scientific barrier. As a female scientist, Barbara McClintock also faced a gender barrier as her research was dismissed by the male-dominated scientific community. The substantial load of skepticism and criticism among the male scientists did not slow McClintock. Her determination only grew and through strong perseverance in her discovery of jumping genes, McClintock broke through these significant barriers. Overall, this entry possesses an excellent connection to the theme of “Breaking Barriers in History”.
Amish Patra
Kamiakin Middle School, Redmond
Bibliography & Process Paper
The United Nations was established in 1945. Since then, the delegates and the organization have worked tirelessly to solve the problems that faced the world. In doing so, the UN broke the barriers between countries so that they could reach a common ground in negotiations. Even though the UN is recognized for its humanitarian works today, the original intent was for it to function as a peacekeeping organization. Its formation shows this intent, and though it was formed during a war, the delegates were able to break the barriers facing them and create a world organization that would keep generations safe for years to come.
Junior Group Documentaries
Antonia Kwan, Ava Chen, Sophia Bai, Daniel Choi, Ethan Schroeder
Tyee Middle School, Bellevue
Bibliography & Process Paper
As a diplomat with a conscience for compassion and religious beliefs, Aristides de Sousa Mendes broke the barrier that prevented fleeing refugees from seeking sanctuary in Portugal during WWII by deliberately signing visas in blatant defiance of the unjust Portuguese government. His sacrifice stripped him and his family of their welfare and security and left them in desolate poverty, in a courageous act that saved millions of lives and sought to break the barriers of political idleness and corruption.
Anushka Arun, Emily Stuart
Evergreen Middle School, Redmond
Bibliography & Process Paper
Beginning in the early 1900s, Margaret Sanger became a national leader in the women’s rights movement as she devoted her life to breaking both the social and economic barriers for women, defying laws that kept them subordinate to their male counterparts and working to secure access to reproductive rights. Her work continues to impact women today by not only directly providing birth control and contraceptive services through her organization, Planned Parenthood, but also has contributed to women’s rights, allowing them to continue breaking barriers of their own.
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Junior Individual Exhibits
Cooper Brix
Leota Middle School, Woodinville
Bibliography & Process Paper
My topic relates to the theme, Breaking Barriers because their defeat at Yorktown broke the British Empire’s reputation of invincibility. With the help of influential leaders such as General George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, the Patriots were able to win the battle and end the long-running American Revolution. This victory motivated colonies from around the world to seek their own independence, such as Mexico and Nova Scotia. It also was an example for other colonizers to respect and not impose taxes on their colonies. Some historians say that the victory of America’s Revolution inspired revolutions in other countries, such as France and Spain. The reason I wanted to do this project is that I think it is essential for people to know history, especially the history of the United States. I hope that people see my project, learn from it, and teach others.
Junior Group Exhibits
Aichen Arun, Sean Park
Tyee Middle School, Bellevue
Bibliography & Process Paper
The movable type, originally invented by Bi Sheng around 1040 C.E., later developed in Korea using metal, and with further improvement made by Gutenberg in 1455 C.E., broke the barrier of poor efficiency of printing technology. The mobility and effectiveness of the movable type played an important role in history and human development, breaking the barrier of inability to spread knowledge, and caused human civilization to accelerate around the world. It had significant impact in Mass Printing of Books, Spread of Knowledge, Facilitated Communication, and Standardization of Information.
Raymond Li, Caleb Li, Dylan de Leon
Tyee Middle School, Bellevue
Bibliography & Process Paper
Alan Turing is a British mathematician turned into a WWII codebreaker that helped the Allied Forces crack the German ENIGMA code through the use of innovative machines that could get the job done not only with accuracy, but with unprecedented efficiency as well. Before Turing, the thought of thinking machines was an imagination and was believed to be impossible. His works paved the path for artificial intelligence and modern technology and broke theoretical computer science barriers.
“A World Not Built For Me” – Steve Serio
Timothy Nugent Strives for a More Accessible World
Colin Sarabosing, Brandon Luo
Tyee Middle School, Bellevue
Bibliography & Process Paper
Our project relates to 2020’s theme of breaking barriers in history because Timothy Nugent and his movement towards equality for people with disabilities helped take down ableism discrimination. Without him, people with disabilities wouldn’t be able to get jobs, education, or live a normal life. He also helped redefine what it means to be a person with disabilities by breaking the stereotype that people with disabilities couldn’t contribute in society.
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Junior Individual Websites
Junior Group Websites
Ella Hall, Saisha Lakkoju
Bibliography & Process Paper
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a central development in the Civil Rights Era that broke the barrier of segregation on public buses in Alabama. The boycott inspired African Americans, increased participation in the Civil Rights Movement all over America, and promoted the concepts of equity and antiracism. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was an event in history that broke barriers because the law that was passed in Alabama in response to the boycott tore down the barrier of segregation. In addition, the boycott gave Americans hope for the future, as this event was proof that things could change if action was taken.
Sarah Ramzan, Sarah Yun
Explorer Middle School, Everett
Bibliography & Process Paper
Our website is about how Marie Curie broke scientific as well as gender barriers for her revolutionary contributions to science. She discovered radium, polonium, and pioneered radioactivity research, becoming the first woman to delve into these fields. These pursuits were very successful for Marie, and her discoveries still influence physics and chemistry today. Marie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, is still the only woman to be a two-time Nobel Laureate, and is the only person to have Nobel Prizes in two different sciences. Her determination to succeed broke barriers in science and for women in science, setting the stage for many things ranging from cancer treatment to electricity plants that are still used today.
Brandi Heyer, Claire Smith
Explorer Middle School, Lynnwood
Bibliography & Process Paper
This project showcases how the Second Wave of feminism, which took place from the 1960s to the 1980s, broke numerous gender barriers in the workplace, in healthcare, in the home, and in the eye of the law. It also helped dismantle the longstanding patriarchy, showing the world that women are indeed equal to men and have the right to the same opportunities and liberties.
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Junior Individual Performances
Junior Group Performances
BrieLynn McLean, Celeste Packard, Lana Roy, Cody Tew
HomeLink Yakima, Yakima
Bibliography & Process Paper
In the year 1515, sailors who wanted to explore the world had a problem. No one wanted to sail on ships beyond the horizon (where they couldn’t see land anymore) because they were afraid the ships would fall off the edge. Even though Greek scientists had figured out centuries ago that the world was round, the masses did not believe it. They were uneducated, there were few books, few schools – so it was easier to believe in myths. If it had not been for Antonio Pigafetta’s journal, which was written as he sailed around the world with Magellan, the barrier of ignorance about the spherical world would have stayed hidden for most of Europe’s population. The conclusion of the performance depicts the results of the second Magellan voyage during the late 20th century, this time to the planet Venus. The information gathered during that project is compared to Pigafetta’s contribution during the first Magellan voyage.
Louis Braille: Breaking Barriers in the Dark
Kierstan Dotzauer, Sophia Kuhnlein, Emilia McGaha
Anacortes Middle School, Anacortes
Bibliography & Process Paper
Our play is about Louis Braille, the man who perfected a new language for blind people. Braille, named after him, allowed blind people to read. It is a tactile writing system using raised dots in different patterns to allow the visually impaired to read. Louis Braille relates to the NHD theme of breaking barriers, because he encountered many barriers in his life. The most significant being in education. Instead of just accepting that, he took matters into his own hands and created a reading system. This broke a large barrier for the visually impaired of being able to read and be educated.
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Junior Papers
Allan Xuan
Leota Middle School, Redmond
Bibliography & Process Paper
Wangari Maathai lived in the 1900’s, a time of great breakthroughs in science, society, and politics. As Africa transformed from divided colonies to independent nations, Africans began to experience huge environmental and political changes. Maathai, a normal Kenyan citizen, attempted to bring the world in the right direction. Through tree planting, Maathai has reshaped the lives of millions of disempowered Africans. She not only broke gender barriers in education and employment, but also overcame seemingly insurmountable political oppression in her home country. Furthermore, she improved the lives of rural Kenyans by helping them transcend their economic predicament, a position caused by decades of environmental degradation, corrupt governing, and disempowerment.
Annabella Li
Redmond Middle School, Redmond
Bibliography & Process Paper
My project explained how the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education impacted and helped to break legal, psychological, physical, and social barriers of racial segregation. In particular, it focuses on the connection between Brown v. Board, the public reactions it elicited, and the Civil Rights Movement.
Nawal Ahmad
Charles Wright Academy, University Place
Bibliography & Process Paper
This paper is about the causes and effects of Tunisia’s Arab Spring, which removed a 22-year dictatorship and improved democracy, justice, and women’s rights in Tunisia as well as sparking change throughout the Middle East. The paper relates to the theme, Breaking Barriers because challenging the precedents set forth regarding women’s rights in a religious country in the Middle East was a complicated feat. Additionally, the act led to a cascade of other democratically-motivated rebellions in the region. Finally, expelling a dictator of more than two decades, who was supported by both the military and the police, in just a single month best exemplified the Tunisian’s inspiring determination.