One student from Juanita High School was so moved by a museum visit that she turned it into an essay. Now, Elizabeth Orswell, sophomore, is headed to the east coast this summer for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Elizabeth has been selected to participate in the National History Academy Residential Program. According to its website, the program offers a unique blend of formal and informal learning with opportunities for first-hand experiences at the nation’s premier historic landmarks. These landmarks are found in Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The program explores the extraordinary events and leaders of American history from pre-colonial times to the 21st century. This was the period when the idea of America took shape and when this idea survived the trauma of Civil War. 

Participants are selected based on an essay submission. The essay question Elizabeth answered was “Which historical site has had the biggest impact on your life? Why?”  She answered by writing about when she went to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York with her family a couple years ago. 

“It was impactful because of how recent it was,” Elizabeth said. “And how people were crying and silent instead of talking and being as excited as they usually were in museums and sites I’d been to.” 

Elizabeth is just one of about 90 students selected in the entire country, and just one of two students selected from Washington state. The academy runs from July 3-29 and they will be based out of Foxcroft School located in Middleburg, Virginia.