Jonathan Lautaha
Orem, UT
Business and Technology Consultant
Kahuku High School, Kahuku, Hawaii
BA History from Stanford University
Mrs. Lisa Lessing, Ms. Lori Ishimura
2004 - 2006: Exhibit
2007: Group Documentary
2008: Individual Documentary
When my topic was the Greensboro Sit-ins, I interviewed one of the original Greensboro Four. When my topic was the U.S. dropping of the atom bombs in Japan, I interviewed a Japanese man that lived through that time. These interviews had the greatest impact on me because it helped me realize that my research wasn't simply an intellectual exercise, but that real people lived through these ordeals, and that it is every citizen's responsibility to use our learning from history to affect our present world for the better.
The History Day program helped me learn how to conduct research and how to form an opinion substantiated by reliable, historical evidence. The experience and academic rigor of History Day helped me gain acceptance to Stanford University, where I graduated with a BA in History with a concentration in U.S. Economic History. In the business technology world, where I now work, I continue to use the analytical skills I learned from NHD--knowing how to distinguish good from better sources of knowledge, challenging assumptions, and defending my business viewpoints with logic and evidence.
I won 1st in my state from 2006 - 2008, and placed 9th at the National Contest in 2007 for my group's documentary on the Battle of Stalingrad. At NHD in 2007, my group also won a special award for excellence in Military History.
History Day not only helped me develop academic skills, but it gave me the confidence to tackle challenging assignments I would later have in school and work.
My employer has a policy where every year we're allowed to take time off for a volunteer cause. For the past 2 years, I've used my volunteer time off to help our local History Day events and volunteer as a judge.
