Local National History Day Project selected to showcase at Smithsonian

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is delighted to congratulate Tafuna High School student Haylie Jeanette Tuiasopopo for her project’s selection in a national competition to be featured at the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution in the nation’s capital. Each year, four million visitors tour the Museum.

“Congratulations to Haylie on this wonderful national achievement!” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “Enjoy this accomplishment, and the result of your efforts and creativity. A special congratulations as well to her parents, Jasper and Jewel Tuiasosopo, and thank you to the educators involved in her effort, especially Christian Sa’alea, Alvin Mamea and Joseph Zodiacal, and John Maiava for working with National History Day in our Territory.”

Her project with National History Day (NHD) is titled, Navigating the Choke Point: The Art of Statecraft. NHD announced Thursday that her exhibit has been competitively selected for virtual showcase in Washington, D.C.

Project Category: Exhibit

Project Title: Navigating the Choke Point: The Art of Statecraft

Student: Haylie Jeanette Tuiasosopo

School: Tafuna High School

Cultural Institution: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

Classroom Teacher: Mr. Alvin Mamea

School NHD Coordinator: Ms. Christian Sa’alea

Coaches: Mr. Joseph Zodiacal and Ms. Christian Sa’alea

NHD Coordinator American Samoa: Mr. John Maiava.

National History Day is a year-long academic program focused on historical research, interpretation, and creative expression for sixth to twelfth-grade students. By participating, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights, and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history. The experience culminates in a series of contests at the local and affiliate levels, and an annual national competition in the nation's capital in June.

Nationwide, students and their work were selected for exhibit in various famous DC locations depending on the project category, including Ford’s Theatre, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, Planet Word, or White House Historical Association.