Lummi Island teen takes first at National History Day

Written by Kira Cox | The Bellingham Herald | June 18, 2009

Simone Prince-Eichner, a homeschooler from Lummi Island, has shown the country that she knows her history.

The teen found out this morning that she won first place in the junior individual performance category at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland. Last year she placed second at the large competition.

Prince-Eichner did her project on Clarence Gideon, the Florida inmate whose trial helped create the public defender system. She was one of 14 students to make it to the final round in her category.

Lynden High students Julia Roper and Lauren Olson placed 11th in their category, senior group performance. The teens made it to the final round yesterday as one of 14 teams. This is the first time the girls have made it to the final round at nationals — they were eliminated in the preliminary rounds last year.

Roper and Olson did their project on Eglantyne Jebb, the woman who created Save the Children and influenced children’s rights.

To see the story I wrote about these three Whatcom County girls, click here.