Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) proudly announces that Northern Middle School received multiple honors at the 2025 Maryland History Day competition, held this past weekend at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Students and staff were recognized with three prestigious awards:
- Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation: Owen Rowe and Garrett Savage
- Award for Excellence in Legal and Constitutional History: Violet Taylor and Mary Thrush
- District History Day Teacher Award: Mrs. Amanda Wilburn
These awards reflect the hard work, historical insight, and academic excellence of our students and educators. Northern Middle continues to demonstrate the importance of historical inquiry and civic learning across grade levels.
In addition, Garrett County celebrates the achievements of four eighth-grade Gifted and Talented students—Violet Taylor, Mazzy Morel, Lilah Rikhye, and Allison Thrush—who recently had their written tributes and video eulogies published through the Silent Heroes of the Cold War Grant, funded by National History Day.
As part of the Untold Stories of the Korean War Veterans Project, these students conducted in-depth research on two local veterans: Dr. Jack E. Arch and Mr. Phillip O. Taylor. Their stories, which highlight service during the Korean War and post-war contributions to the medical field, are now permanently housed in the Silent Heroes national archive.
The program was funded in part by a grant from the Veterans Legacy Program, a division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and included a field trip to Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery, where students recorded and presented their video tributes.
This meaningful project provided accelerated learners with a chance to engage in authentic historical research while honoring the legacies of regional veterans. According to National History Day’s Education Director and the Superintendent of Veterans Affairs, the students’ work was deeply respectful and meticulously presented.
To view the published tributes and videos, please visit the National History Day Silent Heroes archive:
Dr. Jack E. Arch https://nhdsilentheroes.org/profiles/jack-ephraim-arch/ and Mr. Phillip O. Taylor https://nhdsilentheroes.org/profiles/phillip-ottawao-taylor/.
Garrett County Public Schools commends these students and staff for their exceptional initiative, research skills, and commitment to preserving and sharing local history.
