Henrico history students shine at annual awards night

As on most evenings, the Henrico Sports and Events Center echoed Dec. 1 with the sounds of youth sports: running feet, basketballs drumming on floors, and shouts of triumph or dismay as volleyballs were slammed home.

But on one basketball court, the clamor of squeaking sneakers and balls thudding against backboards was just distant background noise. In this arena, dozens of fifth-grade students were showing off their history projects – while educating their parents and teachers about significant Henrico events, places and persons.

At one display, students stood beside a screen highlighting photos and facts about the Henrico Theatre. The old-fashioned spelling of "theater," they explained, is still used because that was the custom when the Theatre opened in 1938. A few years later, when World War II broke out, the site was even designated as a bomb shelter.

Today, the restored movie house is used for a variety of arts programming, films, community events and celebrations, and is distinguished not only by listings on national and state historic registers, but by its designation as the only example of art deco architecture in the county.

At another station, Quintus Tian and Corbyn Constanzer of Shady Grove E.S. had constructed a Henrico map large enough to cover a tabletop, and were eager to explain the sites of historical interest sketched throughout the county. Asked why they had created a traditional map – using paper instead of a digital display, as many of their peers had done – the boys were emphatic.

"Too small!" said one, pointing out the hand-drawn illustrations that bordered the map, and indicating that the expanse of paper was superior to a screen for depicting scale and enhancing impact.

Among other projects on display were several featuring famous figures with Henrico ties, such as Pocahontas, Virginia Randolph, and Arthur Ashe, Jr. Depictions of historic sites ranged from the Theatre and Dabbs House to Echo Lake Park and Richmond International Airport, while displays featuring events centered around such struggles as the Seven Days Battles and Gabriel's Rebellion.

A few students from each magisterial district took home top honors for their projects (see list below) – but the celebrations were not limited to the big winners. Parents lingered after the awards ceremony taking family photos, while students continued to share stories of how they chose their topics and created their projects.

Corbyn and Quintus were among the students who clearly enjoyed revealing "tricks of the trade" they had used in crafting their project. Asked what modern-day techniques had produced such an authentic-looking map – complete with browned edges and yellow tints to give it the look of a centuries-old relic – they grinned knowingly and announced, "We used shoe polish!"

Henrico History Project award-winners

Formerly known as the Henrico Historical Awareness Project, the Henrico History Project is a partnership of Henrico County Public Schools and the Henrico Preservation Advisory Committee. The following students in each magisterial district took top honors for their projects this year:

Brookland District
First place - Emma Salang and Aryaa Adivarekar; Springfield Park E.S.
Second place - Luke Baum; Greenwood E.S.
Third place - Skye Robbins, Erum Jebran and Sara Faqirzada; Dumbarton E.S.

Fairfield District
First place - Jurnee Clarke, Dionne Hawkins and Aziyah Hill; Harvie E.S.
Second place - Samara Giles and Kaylan Huynh; Longdale E.S.
Third place - Avery Umbarger, Ruben Caballero, & Monroe Redding; Chamberlayne E.S.

Three Chopt District
First place - Luke Jualayba; Colonial Trail E.S.
Second place - Audrey Kim, Brody Miller and Sienna Harter; Kaechele E.S.
Third place - Charles Cobb; Rivers Edge

Tuckahoe District
First place - Bodie Bluford; Gayton E.S.
Second place - Yassine Dahri, Magnus Sorensen and Oliver Hall; Three Chopt E.S.
Third place - Kate Groth & Winnie Young; Maybeury E.S.

Varina District
First place - Georgina Bueno; Baker E.S.
Second place - Kayden Howard and D'Zaria Mines; Highland Springs E.S.
Third place - Lauren Crawley; Ward E.S.