[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING TUCSON'S NATIONAL HISTORY DAY WINNERS

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                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 2019

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Tucson, 
Arizona's four students who won first place at the National Endowment 
for the Humanities' National History Day contest. The young history 
buffs, Sean Choudhry, Elias Rice-Bensch, Zia Rice-Bensch, and Keona 
Wallen all attend the Accelerated Learning Laboratory in my district. 
Their website Radium Girls: From Jaw-Dropping Tragedy to Glowing 
Triumph earned the top prize in the contest that featured more than 
3,000 students from across the country.
  National History Day began in the 1970s and is the culmination of a 
yearlong academic program for students in grades 6 through 12 to engage 
in historical research. Students produce essays, exhibitions, films, 
performances, or websites to enter into local and state competitions. 
State winners move on to compete in the national finals at the 
University of Maryland at College Park. The National Endowment for the 
Humanities has been a sponsor and partner of National History Day for 
more than 30 years.
  The theme for this year's competition was ``Triumph and Tragedy in 
History'' and more than a half million students submitted entries. On 
their website, Sean, Elias, Zia, and Keona state, ``The radium girls 
were young factory workers who unknowingly consumed lethal amounts of 
radium, often resulting in slow, painful deaths. Despite their tragic 
circumstances, their desire for change and persistence in court caused 
revolutionary change to workplace safety regulations and sparked 
monumental scientific advancements regarding radium and 
radioactivity.''
  The students go on to document how radium was commonly used and 
recommended. At the focus of their website is the story of the women 
who, at the start of the 20th century, were exposed to high levels of 
radium in their work as they painted watch dials. Such exposure proved 
quickly fatal and resulted in physical deformities and cancer. The 
legal battles that followed were tumultuous and provided minor relief 
for the women who had been exposed to radium. Their legacy, however, 
lives on today as workplace protections continue to be a focus on 
Capitol Hill.
  These four incredible students have demonstrated truly admirable 
talent and skill in their deep dive into history. I am moved by their 
desire to shed light on an overlooked and long-forgotten story that 
still resonates today. I want to congratulate Sean, Elias, Zia, Keona, 
their families, and the educators who have helped them get where they 
are today. I expect great things from each of them in the near future 
and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our district 
and abroad.

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