Six Barrington Students Headed to National History Day Competition in Washington D.C.
Barrington, RI — Six students from Barrington High School secured top honors in the state National History Day competition and are set to represent Rhode Island next month at the National History Day national contest in Washington, D.C.
The state competition took place recently at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) on April 27, 2026, with nearly 3,000 students nationwide expected to attend the national event. Barrington students Salma Riahi, Peyton Hillier, Xavier Barako, Jasper Case, John Merkel, and Heidi Raif earned first or second place finishes to qualify for nationals.
Barrington Students Shine Across Multiple Categories
Salma Riahi, a junior and the History Club president at Barrington, won first place in the individual paper division with her compelling work, “Electrified and Electrocuted: The Newport Folk Festival as a Site of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform.”
Sophomores Jasper Case and John Merkel teamed up for first place in the group performance division with their piece on “The Significance of Bloody Sunday.”
Juniors Peyton Hillier and Xavier Barako secured second place in the group documentary division with their film “The Spark,” chronicling the 1772 Gaspee Affair, a pivotal pre-Revolution event in Rhode Island’s history.
Barrington sophomore Heidi Raif earned second place in the individual website division for her project “Jazz Age: The Harlem Renaissance.” Another sophomore, Kehan Tian, placed third in the same category for her detailed website on “Fiscal Fortunes Family Futures: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in China’s Economically Driven Child Policies.”
Competition Mirrors Science Fair Format with Historical Focus
Tracy Miller, Barrington High’s History Club adviser, explained that National History Day is “sort of like a science fair, but for history.” Each year features a theme; this year’s was “Revolution, Reaction, Reform.” Students enter independently or in teams, submitting projects as papers, performances, exhibits, websites, or documentaries.
Unlike many Rhode Island schools, Barrington does not assign National History Day projects as part of its curriculum. Instead, students participate voluntarily through the History Club, with eight members competing this year at the state level.
Upcoming National Competition in Washington D.C.
The Barrington team will join nearly 3,000 students representing all 50 states, Washington D.C., territories like Guam and American Samoa, Department of Defense schools, and international locations including China and Korea at the week-long national contest.
The national event offers these students a rare chance to showcase their research and creativity on a historic stage, competing for top national honors in front of judges, educators, and peers.
Why This Matters
This achievement highlights the dedication and talent of Barrington’s young historians in a fiercely competitive national arena. Their work shines a spotlight on critical historical moments—both American and global—that resonate deeply in today’s political and social landscape.
For readers across the United States, this competition underscores the value of deep historical understanding and the essential role students play in preserving and interpreting history amid ever-evolving challenges.
What to watch next: Follow Barrington High students’ journey and results from National History Day in D.C. as the competition unfolds next month.
