iUniversity Prep seventh grader Cassidy McCarthy won first place at the National History Day competition, held June 8-12 at the University of Maryland. McCarthy won in the Junior Individual Website division for her website project about “The West Virginia Mine Wars: Justice in the Coal Fields.”
“When they called my name for first place, I was so shocked and excited. I couldn’t believe it,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy’s entry competed with winning website projects from other states. At nationals, she presented her project before a panel of judges who asked about her process in building the website and what she learned. McCarthy’s website pages included links to a thesis, annotated bibliography of sources, history of the events and artifacts from the West Virginia State Archives.
Teacher Chad Hannon, who in 2024 was one of two Texas teachers selected to compete for the National History Day honor, shared that Cassidy “poured her heart and soul into that website and crafted a truly compelling story.”
iUP has had great success with students advancing through regionals and on to the Texas History Day Competition. In 2025, iUP sophomore Hayden Rockaway won third place in the Paper category, one of five events, and in 2024, then-eighth grader Marti Willis received the bronze medal in Individual Performance. This was the first time an iUP student had advanced to the national competition.
Congratulations to McCarthy on the national award!