San Juan High: Tradition of History Fair winners 

by Janet Wilcox
Contributing writer
“Those who don’t understand and appreciate history are bound to repeat it.”  – Santana
Students from San Juan High School have consistently done well at the Utah State History Fair, with many qualifying for Nationals in Washington DC.
The first ever to do so is Tonya Morris of White Mesa, who won a Utah grand prize expense-paid trip to Washington DC in 1988.
It was an eye-opening experience for this Ute student and her advisor to travel to a gigantic city and compete with students representing the whole nation. 
Tonya’s paper on the Posey War earned 1st place in Utah and her teachers, principal, and friends were thrilled for her.
Participation in history and science fairs require “Authentic Assessment” where research and documentation are useful to others and students do original investigation.
Most recently Saylor Dandy, daughter of Jim and Rena Dandy, qualified for the National History Fair and competed in Washington DC this summer. 
Her presentation was a display showing experiences of Native American students as they sought to get an education. She interviewed her grandparents Edward Whitethorne and Sally Johnson, and read notebooks that her grandparents, Jim and Betty Dandy, kept related to boarding schools.
Her research included a documentary and recorded stories of other friends and relatives who attended boarding schools in the Four Corners area. 
To qualify for Nationals, students are interviewed by 2-3 judges at each level of competition. They must be knowledgeable and exact in the information they share with judges. Saylor’s teacher/advisor at SJHS is Jesse Grover.
SJHS winners
from the past
San Juan High’s winners in 1987 for historical papers were: 1st Shelley Singer,  2nd Tonya Morris, 3rd Julie Martineau with Superior ratings going to Steve Black, Kaelin Perkins, LeAnn Lovell, LeeAnn Bowring, Daryl Guymon, Kacee Shumway, Gary Lyman, Katrina Shumway, Lorin Kartchner, Deniane Gutke, Annette Carroll, Kim Hurst, Tyler Palmer, Missy Knight, Jenifer Kurtz, Janell Guymon, and Thelma Tate.
Region Winners 1988 
Historical papers: 1st Shelley Singer, 2nd Tonya Morris, 3rd Julie Martineau; Superior ratings: Steve Black, Kaelin Perkins, LeAnn Lovell LeeAnn Bowring, Daryl Guymon, Kacee Shumway, Gary Lyman, Katrina Shumway Smith, Lorin Kartchner & Deniane Gutke, Annette Cashin Carroll, Kim Hurst, Tyler Palmer, Missy Knight, Jenifer Kurtz, Janell Guymon, and Thelma Tate.
Students win top prize at 1992 Utah History Fair
Navajo students Lynnette Chee, Reed Sampson and Cyndee Stash of San Juan High were the grand prize winners in the Utah History Fair. They utilized their cultural background to develop a project on Navajo rug-weaving, and won $500. They also won 1st place and $75 in the Brigham Young University’s Charles Redd Center contest for the best historical project dealing with Western history.
Reed was inspired to use a book format with large pages that turned after a book fell down from a shelf and hit him in the head! Each page told part of the history of Navajo weaving.
Their project also won $75 for best Western Research Exhibit and an expense paid trip to Washington D.C. 
Winners in 1995 
One of the biggest groups to qualify for the National History Fair included separate projects by Jeanine Christensen Parson, Christina Guymon Lakey, Nicole Redd Cabral, Zeb Crofts, Valena Lake,  Kyle Laws, Platte Nielson and Landry Redd. 
Winners in 1997 
Kristina Long placed 1st in individual performance in Region Competition with her story of the Long Walk entitled “Peaches”; 2nd place went to Tyler Jack and his performance related to the CCC Camp in Blanding. 
Kami Christiansen wrote her research paper on the role that her grandfather County Commissioner, Calvin Black played in the Sagebrush Rebellion. “From Sagebrush Rebellion to Environmental Hellion” the title.
She won 1st place for local research from the Charles Redd Center and a $100 cash prize. Her paper took 2nd in the state. 
Winners in 2009
Winner in the Charles Redd competition was Gina Guymon. Teachers given Merit Awards include Judy Busk, Richfield High; Janet Wilcox, San Juan High; and James Walker, Grand Middle School.
Region winners 1988 
Historical papers: 1st Shelley Singer, 2nd Tonya Morris, 3rd Julie Martineau; Superior ratings: Steve Black, Kaelin Perkins, LeAnn Lovell LeeAnn Bowring, Daryl Guymon, Kacee Shumway, Gary Lyman, Katrina Shumway Smith, Lorin Kartchner and Deniane Gutke, Annette Cashin Carroll, Kim Hurst, Tyler Palmer, Missy Knight, Jenifer Kurtz, Janell Guymon, and Thelma Tate.